Selective COX-2 inhibition affects fatty acids, but not COX mRNA expression in patients with FAP

Relationship between microsatellite status and immune microenvironment of colorectal cancer and its application to diagnosis and treatment

Due to advances in understanding the immune microenvironment of colorectal cancer (CRC), microsatellite classification (dMMR/MSI-H and pMMR/MSS) has become a key biomarker for the diagnosis and treatment of CRC patients and therefore has important clinical value. Microsatellite status is associated with a variety of clinicopathological features and affects drug resistance and the prognosis of patients. CRC patients with different microsatellite statuses have different compositions and distributions of immune cells and cytokines within their tumor microenvironments (TMEs). Therefore, there is great interest in reversing or reshaping CRC TMEs to transform immune tolerant "cold" tumors into immune sensitive "hot" tumors. This requires a thorough understanding of differences in the immune microenvironments of MSI-H and MSS type tumors. This review focuses on the relationship between CRC microsatellite status and the immune microenvironment. It focuses on how this relationship has value for clinical application in diagnosis and treatment, as well as exploring the limitations of its current application.

Role of anti-inflammatory interventions in high-fat-diet-induced obesity

Lipotoxicity is defined as deposition of excess fat associated with an inflammatory response. Metabolomic analysis of fatty acids (FAs) can be a marker of silent inflammation. ω3-Enriched diet, celecoxib, and safranal may have a protective anti-inflammatory role. In this work, total FAs extracted from red blood cells and arachidonic acid-to-eicosapentaenoic acid (AA-to-EPA) ratios were assessed using GC-MS assay in single-ion monitoring mode. The study was conducted on 64 male rats divided into eight groups: I, controls; II, rats received high-fat diet (HFD), III, rats received ω-6-enriched HFD; IV, rats received ω-3-enriched HFD; V, rats received celecoxib with HFD; VI, rats received safranal with HFD; VII and VIII, rats received celecoxib and safranal with ω-3 HFD, respectively. GC-MS Gas chromatography Mass spectrometry was performed for analysis of fatty acid methyl ester. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to analyze serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) concentrations. A statistically significant decrease of AA-to-EPA ratio was observed in group VII when compared with the groups receiving HFDs. This group also showed the lowest serum IL-6 level and highest TGF-β1 level. In conclusion, ω3-enriched diet along with drugs (e.g. celecoxib) and herbal medications (e.g. safranal) may have an anti-inflammatory effect in lipotoxicity. GC-MS with single-ion monitoring is valid for the analysis of FAs.

Are Colon and Rectal Cancer Two Different Tumor Entities? A Proposal to Abandon the Term Colorectal Cancer

Colon cancer (CC) and rectal cancer (RC) are synonymously called colorectal cancer (CRC). Based on our experience in basic and clinical research as well as routine work in the field, the term CRC should be abandoned. We analyzed the available data from the literature and results from our multicenter Research Group Oncology of Gastrointestinal Tumors termed FOGT to confirm or reject this hypothesis. Anatomically, the risk of developing RC is four times higher than CC, while physical activity helps to prevent CC but not RC. Obvious differences exist in molecular carcinogenesis, pathology, surgical topography and procedures, and multimodal treatment. Therefore, we conclude that CC is not the same as RC. The term "CRC" should no longer be used as a single entity in basic and clinical research as well as other areas of classification.

FosB transcription factor regulates COX-2 expression in colorectal cancer cells without affecting PGE2 expression

The expression levels of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and the prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) content have been associated with poor prognosis in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). There is a strong correlation between COX-2 expression and PGE2 production in tissues from CRC patients, suggesting an important role for COX-2 on the regulation of PGE2 production. Previous studies by the present authors, where CRC patients were divided into high- or low-COX-2 expressing tumors, displayed important differences in the expression levels of several transcription factors involved in carcinogenesis. Among them, FBJ murine osteosarcoma viral oncogene homolog B (FosB), which is a member of the activator protein-1 complex, was the highest upregulated transcription factor in patients with high expression levels of COX-2. The present study aimed to investigate the role of FosB on the COX-2/PGE2 axis in CRC cells with high COX-2 expression levels. Interference RNA technology was used to knockdown FosB expression in HCA-7 cells, and 72 h later the messenger (m)RNA expression levels of COX-1 and COX-2, as well as the PGE2 content, were measured. The results indicated that FosB knockdown decreased the expression levels of COX-2 but did not affect the PGE2 content or the mRNA expression levels of COX-1. The present findings suggest an important role for FosB on the regulation of COX-2 expression, but no effect on the regulation of the PGE2 levels. In addition, the present results imply independent regulatory mechanisms for COX-2 expression and PGE2 content.

Relationship between Fecal Content of Fatty Acids and Cyclooxygenase mRNA Expression and Fatty Acid Composition in Duodenal Biopsies, Serum Lipoproteins, and Dietary Fat in Colectomized Familial Adenomatous Polyposis Patients

A few familial adenomatous polyposis studies have focused upon faecal sterols and bile acids but none has analysed the fecal content of fatty acids. We report here findings of an observational study on 29 colectomized familial adenomatous polyposis patients that describe the fecal content of fatty acids, and relate this to the proportions of fatty acids and levels of cyclooxygenase mRNA expression in duodenal biopsies, levels of serum lipoproteins, and diet. In the ileostomy group separately (n = 12), the fecal content of arachidonic acid was correlated negatively to the proportions of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid in duodenal biopsies. Total serum-cholesterol was negatively correlated to the fecal content of saturates and monounsaturates. The fecal palmitoleic acid/palmitic acid ratio was positively correlated to the levels of cyclooxygease-2 expression in duodenal biopsies.In the ileal-pouch-anal anastomosis group separately (n = 17), significant correlations were found between the fecal contents of oleic acid, linoleic acid, and alpha-linolenic acid, and the proportions of myristic acid, oleic acid and eicosaenoic acid in duodenal biopsies. Dietary monounsaturates were positively correlated to different fecal fatty acids. Future studies should focus on molecular mechanisms relevant to fatty acid metabolism, inflammation, and angiogenesis, in addition to nutrition.