[Metachronous colorectal cancer]

The occurrence of metachronous colo-rectal cancer was investigated in 903 patients under the age of 40 years at the time of diagnosis of the primary cancer. A constant frequency of metachronous colo-rectal cancers was found and a cumulated incidence of 30% after an observation period of 41 years. Metachronous cancer of the colon was encountered most frequently in the right half of the colon regardless of the site of the primary cancer. On the basis of the above mentioned results, a life-long follow-up programme is recommended, consisting of regular examination for blood in the faeces and colonoscopy.

Cancer incidence among parents of patients with colorectal cancer

To investigate the genetic factor in the development of colorectal cancer, a cohort study was undertaken of parents of patients with this disease. All 1,524 patients, who were diagnosed with colorectal cancer in Denmark in 1982-84 and were below the age of 60 years, were selected from the National Cancer Register. The parents of these patients were identified from the public population registers. The index persons had a total of 1,478 eligible mothers, of whom 96% were successfully traced, and a total of 1,414 eligible fathers, of whom 96% were traced. These parents were sought in the Cancer Register for cancer cases diagnosed in the period January 1, 1943 to December 31, 1986. The incidence rates for the Danish population were used to estimate the expected numbers of colorectal cancer cases among the parents. Both the mothers and the fathers exhibited an increased risk of colorectal cancer. The standardized incidence ratios were 1.62 (95% CI 1.31-2.01) and 1.87 (95% CI 1.54-2.27), respectively. In a previous study we found that spouses of patients with colorectal cancer in Denmark did not have an increased risk of this disease. The increased risk found in the present study among the parents of patients therefore indicates that a possible genetic factor is present in the aetiology of colorectal cancer, and that it is of importance in the general population.

[Coloanal reservoir in low rectal cancer]

On the basis of a case history a method of treating low rectal cancer is presented. The method includes resection of the rectum and mucosal protectomy with establishment of a colo-anal reservoir.

Diagnosis of familial adenomatous polyposis

Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) includes early development of up to thousands of colorectal adenomas and of colorectal adenocarcinoma in all untreated cases. Moreover, a variety of extracolonic manifestations are seen. Proctosigmoidoscopy is used for screening; when adenomas are found, the diagnostic evaluation includes colonoscopy and gastroduodenoscopy. Screening of first degree relatives should start at the age of 10 years, using proctosigmoidoscopy at regular intervals. The recent detection of a specific FAP gene at chromosome 5 and of congenital retinal pigmentations will allow an early preclinical diagnosis in the future. A centralized registration of FAP has resulted in an improved prognosis, and the establishment of international groups will contribute to increased research of this disease.

Fertility and pregnancy in women with familial adenomatous polyposis

A questionnaire study was carried out among 58 Danish women with familial adenomatous polyposis concerning fertility, pregnancies, abortions and deliveries. Further data were obtained from obstetric records and general practitioners. The fertility and the course of the pregnancy of women with polyposis, frequency of miscarriages, legal abortions, mature and premature infants corresponds to the frequency among the obstetric population in Denmark. Of the 73 infants, eight (11%) were delivered by caesarean section. Of the 16 women who gave birth after an operation for familial adenomatous polyposis, 5 (31%) had a caesarean section. Of the seven infants who died, two had lethal congenital malformations and three infants were very premature.

Correlation between in vitro tetraploidy in skin fibroblasts and development of sporadic colorectal carcinomas

In vitro tetraploidy (IVT) in skin fibroblasts cultures measured by flow cytometry was compared with histological type and degree of dysplasia in 22 patients with adenomas of the colon and rectum. Furthermore, IVT was compared with stage and differentiation in 36 patients with carcinoma of the colon and rectum. In vitro tetraploidy in skin fibroblasts was correlated to type as well as dysplasia in adenomas and differentiation in carcinomas but was not correlated to Dukes' stage in carcinomas. Skin fibroblast genetic instability, expressed as increased IVT (IVT+), has been reported to reflect a genetic predisposition to colorectal cancer in the hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer syndrome. Because IVT+, which appears to be associated with the progression of adenomas to carcinomas, also is found in many of the non-syndrome colorectal cancers, we suggest that development of colorectal cancer is considerably influenced by the constitutive genetic instability of the autosomal dominant colorectal cancer syndromes.

[Proctoscopic versus histologic diagnosis of rectal polyps]

On the basis of the endoscopic appearance, 71 rectal polyps were assessed as adenomata or non-neoplastic polyps, after which the endoscopic diagnosis was compared with the results of histological examination. The diagnosis based on macroscopic examination of the polyps proved correct in only 62% of the cases. It is concluded that the diagnosis of adenoma cannot be established solely on the proctoscopic appearance of a polyp and, as adenomata are premalignant, removal of all polyps found at proctoscopy is recommended.

[Familial adenomatous polyposis]

Familial adenomatous polyposis is a dominant hereditary disease which includes early development of up to several thousand colorectal adenomas and subsequent development of colorectal adenocarcinoma in all of the untreated cases. In addition, various extracolonic manifestations may be observed. These include epidermoid cysts, osteomas, desmoids and gastroduodenal polyps. Conventional proctosigmoidoscopy is employed as the primary diagnostic method as all of the patients have rectal adenomata. Thereafter colonoscopic examination is undertaken and gastroduodenoscopy is performed on account of the risk of development of duodenal adenomas. Treatment consists of prophylactic colectomy at about the age of 15 years. An ileorectal anastomosis is most frequently made but construction of an ileoanal reservoir may be considered in selected cases. Regular prophylactic control examinations of first degree relatives of affected family members should commence at the age of ten years. Recent demonstration of a specific gene for polyposis on chromosome 5 will, together with demonstration of retinal pigmentation permit early preclinical diagnosis in future. Establishment of the Polyposis Register has resulted in earlier tracing and treatment of the condition and an improved prognosis.

The first year with a J-pouch. A prospective evaluation

Proctocolectomy and construction of a pelvic pouch with ileo-anal anastomosis is now an established method in the treatment of ulcerative colitis, but various procedures are still under evaluation. This series comprises 97 patients with a 20 cm long J-shaped pouch and a short rectal cuff of 2-5 cm, prospectively evaluated after 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. Eight patients had their pouch removed because of septic complications. All the remaining patients evacuate spontaneously, although around one third still use constipating agents after 1 year. The stooling frequency gradually diminished from 7 (4-15) per 24 h to 4 (2-6) after 12 months. Continence also gradually improved during this period. No patient was incontinent of faeces but 13% still experienced episodes of minor soiling after 12 months. The procedure has proved to be safe providing patients are carefully selected, and 90% achieve a satisfactory or acceptable functional result.

Metachronous colorectal carcinoma

During the period 1943-67, 903 Danish patients aged less than 40 years had colorectal carcinoma. The patients were followed up for up to 41 years and during this period 44 of 501 (9 per cent) operated on for cure developed a metachronous colorectal carcinoma. The cumulative risk of a metachronous colorectal carcinoma was 30 per cent after up to 41 years of observation. The occurrence of a metachronous colorectal carcinoma was evenly distributed in the observation period. The cumulative survival rate after operation for a metachronous colorectal carcinoma was 41 per cent after 20 years of observation. We propose a lifelong follow-up programme after resection of colorectal carcinoma for cure in this age group, including annual Hemoccult test and colonoscopy at 3-year intervals.

Gastrointestinal regulatory peptides in familial adenomatous polyposis

The etiology of adenomas in the stomach and duodenum in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is unknown. In this study the plasma concentration of epidermal growth factor (EGF), and other gastrointestinal polypeptides with a possible trophic effect on the gastrointestinal mucosa, was unchanged before and after meal stimulation. In 3 of 7 patients an increased EGF immunoreactivity was found in duodenal adenomas. This study has not indicated that regulatory peptides are involved in development of duodenal polyps in FAP, but suggests further studies to determine the role of EGF in FAP.

Familial adenomatous polyposis

Familial adenomatous polyposis is an autosomal dominant disease that includes early development of up to thousands of colorectal adenomas and several extracolonic manifestations. All untreated patients will develop colorectal adenocarcinoma. The treatment of choice is colectomy and ileorectal anastomosis, but restorative proctocolectomy may be considered in selected cases. Polyposis patients treated with ileorectal anastomosis should be followed for life, with regular proctosigmoidoscopy and destruction of new adenomas. Furthermore, regular gastroduodenoscopy should be carried out because of frequent occurrence of premalignant duodenal adenomas. The prognosis is good after prophylactic colectomy in patients without carcinoma. All first degree relatives of affected family members should be examined regularly with proctosigmoidoscopy from the age of ten, and prophylaxis should be organised using a national or regional polyposis register. The recent detection of a specific gene for familial adenomatous polyposis is a long step forward, and several problems may be solved by increasing international cooperation.

Psoas abscess complicating Crohn's disease

Six cases of psoas abscess complicating Crohn's disease are presented. The most common manifestations were weight loss, pain, fever and a palpable mass in the flank or iliac fossa. CT-scan confirmed the diagnosis. The treatment of choice in this condition is either laparotomy with drainage and primary resection of affected bowel or initial ultrasound-guided percutaneous drainage followed by early resection of the affected bowel.

Multiple adenomas in terminal ileum 25 years after restorative proctocolectomy for familial adenomatous polyposis. Report of a case

A patient with familial adenomatous polyposis was treated with colectomy, mucosal proctectomy, and a straight ileoanal anastomosis in 1962. Thirteen to 21 years later recurrent adenomas developed at the ileoanal anastomosis, and 25 years after the operation multiple adenomas were found in the terminal ileum up to 12 cm from the ileoanal anastomosis. It is concluded that colectomy and mucosal proctectomy, with or without an ileoanal reservoir, does not eliminate the future risk of adenoma formation. Thus, this method should be used only in selected polyposis patients.

[Cimetidine treatment of stomach cancer]

The effect of cimetidine treatment in cancer of the stomach was investigated in a double-blind, multicentre study comprising eight departments in Greater Copenhagen. Immediately after operation (or the decision not to operate) 181 patients were subdivided at random to treatment with a placebo or cimetidine in a dosage of 400 mg twice daily for two years or until death. Compliance control was carried out every third month. The mean survival in the cimetidine group (450 days, 1-1,826) was significantly longer (p = 0.02) than in the placebo group (316 days, 1-1,653).

Duodenal adenomas in familial adenomatous polyposis: their structure and cellular composition with particular reference to endocrine hyperplasia

134 duodenal biopsies from 14 patients with familial adenomatous polyposis were evaluated by light microscopy for the presence of adenoma. Staining reactions for endocrine cells were applied. 90 biopsies contained adenoma, almost all of the tubular type (98%) with dysplasia, ranging from mild to moderate. Accompanying hyperplasia of argyrophil and argentaffin endocrine cells was found in 91% and 64% of the adenomas, respectively. Based on histological criteria it is concluded that the risk of carcinoma development in the duodenum could equal that in colon and rectum. The observation of endocrine hyperplasia is new, and further investigations are needed before the significance of this finding can be evaluated.

Electron microscopic studies of endocrine hyperplasia in duodenal adenomas in familial adenomatous polyposis

Electron microscopical studies on endocrine cell hyperplasia of duodenal adenomas from five patients with familial adenomatous polyposis were performed. All the endocrine cell types normally found in the duodenal mucosa were identified. A constant feature was proliferation of duodenal-enterochromaffin cells but an increase in the number of all other endocrine cell types apart from pyloric-gastrin cells and somatostatin cells, was also observed. Certain types of intestinal endocrine cells (the intestinal enterochromaffin cell and the glicentin cell) are rare cells in the normal duodenal mucosa. The finding of these cells may indicate increased biological aggressivity.

Hepatoblastoma and familial adenomatous polyposis

Eleven children have been identified as having hepatoblastoma and a family history of adenomatous polyposis, and 14 additional instances of this association have been collected from the literature. Among the 11 survivors of hepatoblastoma in the combined series, adenomatous lesions have been sought in seven and detected in six patients at ages 7 to 25 years. Five of these patients also have congenital hypertrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium, a marker for carriers of the polyposis gene. These findings strengthen the association between hepatoblastoma and familial adenomatous polyposis and have led to the establishment of the Hepatoblastoma-Adenomatous Polyposis Registry.

Prognostic significance of hereditary predisposition on the outcome of colorectal cancer as expressed by increased in vitro tetraploidy

Seventy colorectal cancer patients operated on in the period 1981-1984 were consecutively investigated for in vitro tetraploidy in dermal fibroblasts, as an increased number of tetraploids is considered a marker of genetic predisposition for colorectal cancer. The difference in disease-free survival rates of increased (IVT+) and normal (IVT-) in vitro tetraploidy was not statistically significant (0.1 less than p less than 0.2), but the decrease in the disease-free survival rate of IVT+ was 1.6 times that of IVT-. To exclude the influence of other prognostic factors, a Cox multivariate regression analysis was used, with Dukes C carcinoma and poor differentiation as co-variables for IVT+. In this analysis IVT+ did not show any independent prognostic significance. A genetic predisposition for colorectal cancer, as expressed by the presence of IVT+ in skin fibroblasts, does not seem to influence the survival of patients with colorectal cancer.

Effect of cimetidine on survival after gastric cancer

The effect of cimetidine on survival was investigated in 181 patients with gastric cancer. Immediately after operation or the decision not to operate, the patients were randomised in double-blind fashion to placebo or cimetidine 400 mg twice daily for two years or until death, with review every three months. Median survival in the cimetidine group was 450 days (range 1-1826) and in the placebo group 316 days (1-1653). The relative survival rates (cimetidine/placebo) were 45%/28% at 1 year, 22%/13% at 2 years, 13%/7% at 3 years, 9%/3% at 4 years, and 2%/0% at 5 years. Survival in the cimetidine group was significantly longer than in the placebo group.

Sigma-like activity from mustard (Sinapis alba L.) chloroplasts conferring DNA-binding and transcription specificity to E. coli core RNA polymerase

A protein fraction which lacks DNA-binding activity itself, but confers enhanced protein-DNA complex formation to E. coli core RNA polymerase, was obtained from mustard chloroplasts by heparin Sepharose chromatography. Gel retardation and competition assays as well as DNase I footprinting experiments with a chloroplast DNA fragment containing the psbA promoter indicate that this reflects sequence-specific binding. Transcription of the psbA template by E. coli core enzyme in the presence of the chloroplast fraction results in enhanced formation of transcripts of the size expected for correct initiation at the in vivo start site. We conclude that the chloroplast fraction reveals sigma-like activity with E. coli RNA polymerase and thus might contain factor(s) of equivalent function in chloroplast transcription.

Increased in vitro tetraploidy and mandibular osteomas in patients with and without colorectal diseases

One hundred and seventy-six individuals with various colorectal diseases were investigated simultaneously for increased in vitro tetraploidy in dermal fibroblast cultures and for occult mandibular osteomas. In only 10 of the 176 persons were both presumed markers of colorectal genetic predisposition present in the same individual. No evidence was found that these traits are causally associated. A combination of the two presumed markers showed a tendency towards occurrence in individuals with a positive family history of colorectal cancer among first-degree relatives.

Is epidermal growth factor involved in development of duodenal polyps in familial polyposis coli?

Duodenal adenomas are a frequent extracolonic manifestation in patients with familial polyposis coli (FPC). Epidermal growth factor (EGF), a polypeptide that stimulates cellular growth and differentiation, is localized in Paneth cells in the small intestine. In two patients with FPC, we found EGF immunoreactivity in duodenal adenomas. Numerous EGF immunoreactive Paneth cells were localized, not as usually, in the bottom of the crypts, but scattered along the crypts alone or in clusters. We do not know whether EGF is involved in the development of duodenal polyps in FPC patients, or whether the present findings represent secondary changes in duodenal polyps.