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Huang A, Yang Y, Sun Z, Hong H, Chen J, Gao Z, Gu J. Clinicopathological characteristics and outcomes of colorectal mucinous adenocarcinoma: a retrospective analysis from China. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1335678. [PMID: 38380362 PMCID: PMC10878404 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1335678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Mucinous adenocarcinoma (MAC) is a unique subtype of colorectal cancer and its prognostic value remains controversial. This study aimed to compare the clinicopathological characteristics and prognostic differences between patients with MAC and non-mucinous adenocarcinoma (NMAC). Methods 674 patients with NMAC, 110 patients with adenocarcinoma with mucinous component (ACWM) and 77 patients with MAC between 2016-2019 were enrolled in the study. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression were performed to analyze the factors associated with prognosis. Predictive nomograms of overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) for patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma were constructed. Confounding factors were eliminated by propensity score matching (PSM). Results Compared with patients with NMAC, patients with MAC were more likely to have a tumor located at the proximal colon, present with a larger tumor diameter, more advanced T stage, higher frequency of metastasis, deficiency of mismatch repair, and elevated preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen. Patients with MAC were related to worse OS (HR=2.53, 95%CI 1.73-3.68, p<0.01) and CSS (HR=3.09, 95%CI 2.10-4.57, p<0.01), which persisted after PSM. Subgroup analysis demonstrated that patients with left-sided or stage III/IV MAC exhibited a comparatively worse OS and CSS than those with NMAC. Furthermore, in patients with stage II with a high-risk factor and stage III MAC, adjuvant chemotherapy was associated with an improved OS, CSS, and RFS. Conclusion Compared with the NMAC phenotype, the MAC phenotype was an independent risk factor for poor prognosis in colorectal adenocarcinoma with worse OS and CSS, particularly patients with left-sided colorectal cancer and stage III/IV. However, patients with MAC can still benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- An Huang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery III, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Yong Yang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Peking University Shougang Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zhuang Sun
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery III, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Haopeng Hong
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery III, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Jiajia Chen
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Peking University Shougang Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zhaoya Gao
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Peking University Shougang Hospital, Beijing, China
- Department of General Surgery, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jin Gu
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery III, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Peking University Shougang Hospital, Beijing, China
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Vernmark K, Knutsen A, Loftås P, Sun XF. The impact of adjuvant chemotherapy on survival in mucinous and non-mucinous rectal adenocarcinoma patients after TME surgery. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0282211. [PMID: 36848363 PMCID: PMC9970087 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The value of adjuvant chemotherapy for rectal cancer patients is debated and varies in different subgroups. One such subgroup is mucinous adenocarcinoma (MAC), which is more treatment resistant compared to non-mucinous adenocarcinoma (NMAC). To date, mucinous histology is not taken into account when deciding on adjuvant treatment strategy. This is the first study to exclusively include patients with rectal cancer, then separate MAC and NMAC and compare the survival in patients that had or did not have adjuvant chemotherapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study included retrospective register data from 365 Swedish patients with stage II-IV rectal adenocarcinoma, 56 patients with MAC and 309 patients with NMAC. All patients were considered curative, had surgery with total mesorectal excision in 2004-2013, and were followed up until death or 2021. RESULTS Patients with MAC that had adjuvant chemotherapy had better overall survival (OS, HR 0.42; CI 95%: 0.19-0.93; p = 0.032) and a trend towards better cancer-specific survival (CSS, HR 0.41 CI 95%: 0.17-1.03; p = 0.057) compared to patients without chemotherapy (HR 0.42; CI 95%: 0.19-0.93; p = 0.032). The difference in OS was still significant even after adjusting for sex, age, stage, differentiation, neoadjuvant chemotherapy and preoperative radiotherapy (HR 0.40; CI 95%: 0.17-0.92; p = 0.031). There was no such difference in the NMAC patients except in the stage-by-stage subgroup analyses where patients in stage IV had better survival after adjuvant chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS There may be a difference in treatment response to adjuvant chemotherapy between MAC and NMAC patients. Patients with MAC could possibly benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy in stages II-IV. Further studies are however needed to confirm these results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Vernmark
- Department of Oncology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Annika Knutsen
- Department of Oncology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- * E-mail:
| | - Per Loftås
- Department of Surgery, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Xiao-Feng Sun
- Department of Oncology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
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Neoadjuvant chemotherapy improves survival in patients with oesophageal mucinous adenocarcinoma: Post-hoc analysis of the UK MRC OE02 and OE05 trials. Eur J Cancer 2022; 170:140-148. [PMID: 35635935 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2022.04.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adenocarcinoma with more than 50% extracellular mucin is a relatively rare histological subtype of gastrointestinal adenocarcinomas. The clinical impact of extracellular mucin in oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OeAC) has not been investigated in detail. We hypothesised that patients with mucinous OeAC (OeACmucin) do not benefit from neoadjuvant chemotherapy. METHODS OeAC patients either treated by surgery alone in the OE02 trial (S-patients) or by neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery (CS-patients) in OE02 or OE05 trials were included. Cancers from 1055 resection specimens (OE02 [test cohort]: 187 CS, 185 S; OE05 [validation cohort]: 683 CS) were classified as either mucinous (more than 50% of the tumour area consists of extracellular mucin, OeACmucin) or non-mucinous adenocarcinoma (OeACnon-mucin). The relationship between histological phenotype, clinicopathological characteristics, survival and treatment was analysed. RESULTS Overall, 7.3% and 9.6% OeAC were classified as OeACmucin in OE02 and OE05, respectively. In OE02, the frequency of OeACmucin was similar in S and CS-patients. Patients with OeACmucin treated with surgery alone had a poorer overall survival compared with OeACnon-mucin patients (hazard ratio: 2.222, 95% confidence interval: 1.08-4.56, P = 0.025). Patients with OeACmucin treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery had similar survival as OeACnon-mucin patients in test and validation cohort. CONCLUSIONS This is the first study to suggest in a post-hoc analysis of material from two independent phase III clinical trials that the poor survival of patients with mucinous OeAC can be improved by neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Future studies are warranted to identify potential underlying biological, biochemical or pharmacokinetic interactions between extracellular mucin and chemotherapy.
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Li M, Xiao Q, Venkatachalam N, Hofheinz RD, Veldwijk MR, Herskind C, Ebert MP, Zhan T. Predicting response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in rectal cancer: from biomarkers to tumor models. Ther Adv Med Oncol 2022; 14:17588359221077972. [PMID: 35222695 PMCID: PMC8864271 DOI: 10.1177/17588359221077972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major contributor to cancer-associated morbidity worldwide and over one-third of CRC is located in the rectum. Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) followed by surgical resection is commonly applied to treat locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). In this review, we summarize current and novel concepts of neoadjuvant therapy for LARC such as total neoadjuvant therapy and describe how these developments impact treatment response. Moreover, as response to nCRT is highly divergent in rectal cancers, we discuss the role of potential predictive biomarkers. We review recent advances in biomarker discovery, from a clinical as well as a histopathological and molecular perspective. Furthermore, the role of emerging predictive biomarkers derived from the tumor environment such as immune cell composition and gut microbiome is presented. Finally, we describe how different tumor models such as patient-derived cancer organoids are used to identify novel predictive biomarkers for chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in rectal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moying Li
- Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg
University, Mannheim
| | - Qiyun Xiao
- Department of Medicine II, Mannheim University
Hospital, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim,
Germany
| | - Nachiyappan Venkatachalam
- Department of Medicine II, Mannheim University
Hospital, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim,
Germany
| | - Ralf-Dieter Hofheinz
- Department of Medicine III, Mannheim University
Hospital, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim,
GermanyMannheim Cancer Center, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg
University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Marlon R. Veldwijk
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Mannheim
University Hospital, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University,
Mannheim, Germany
| | - Carsten Herskind
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Mannheim
University Hospital, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University,
Mannheim, Germany
| | - Matthias P. Ebert
- Department of Medicine II, Mannheim University
Hospital, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim,
GermanyMannheim Cancer Center, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg
University, Mannheim, GermanyDKFZ-Hector Cancer Institute, University
Medical Center Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Tianzuo Zhan
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Mannheim
University Hospital, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University,
Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, D-68167 Mannheim, GermanyMannheim Cancer Center,
Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
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Huang A, Yang Y, Shi JY, Li YK, Xu JX, Cheng Y, Gu J. Mucinous adenocarcinoma: A unique clinicopathological subtype in colorectal cancer. World J Gastrointest Surg 2021; 13:1567-1583. [PMID: 35070064 PMCID: PMC8727185 DOI: 10.4240/wjgs.v13.i12.1567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Mucinous adenocarcinoma (MAC) is a unique clinicopathological subtype of colorectal cancer, which is characterized by extracellular mucinous components that comprise at least 50% of the tumor tissue. The clinical characteristics, molecular features, response to chemo-/radiotherapy, and prognosis of MAC are different from that of non-MAC (NMAC). MAC is more common in the proximal colon, with larger volume, higher T-stage, a higher proportion of positive lymph nodes, poorer tumor differentiation, and a higher proportion of peritoneal implants compared to NMAC. Although biopsy is the main diagnostic method for MAC, magnetic resonance imaging is superior in accuracy, especially for rectal carcinoma. The aberrant expression of mucins, including MUC1, MUC2 and MUC5AC, is a notable feature of MAC, which may be related to tumor invasion, metastasis, inhibition of apoptosis, and chemo-/radiotherapy resistance. The genetic origin of MAC is mainly related to BRAF mutation, microsatellite instability, and the CpG island methylator phenotype pathway. In addition, the poor prognosis of rectal MAC has been confirmed by various studies, and that of colonic MAC is still controversial. In this review, we summarize the epidemiology, clinicopathological characteristics, molecular features, methods of diagnosis, and treatments of MAC in order to provide references for further fundamental and clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- An Huang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery III, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Yong Yang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery III, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Jing-Yi Shi
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery III, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Yu-Kun Li
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery III, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Jing-Xuan Xu
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery III, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Yu Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery III, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Jin Gu
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery III, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Science, Peking University International Cancer Center, Beijing 100142, China
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Peking University Shougang Hospital, Beijing 100144, China
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O’Connell E, Reynolds IS, McNamara DA, Burke JP, Prehn JHM. Resistance to Cell Death in Mucinous Colorectal Cancer-A Review. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13061389. [PMID: 33808549 PMCID: PMC8003305 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13061389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Revised: 03/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Mucinous colorectal cancer (CRC) is estimated to occur in approximately 10-15% of CRC cases and is characterized by abundant extracellular mucin. Mucinous CRC is frequently associated with resistance to apoptosis. Inferior prognosis is observed in mucinous CRC, particularly in rectal cancer and metastatic cases. Mucins are heavily glycosylated secretory or transmembrane proteins that participate in protection of the colonic epithelium. MUC2 overexpression is a hallmark of mucinous CRCs. Mucinous CRC is associated with KRAS and BRAF mutation, microsatellite instability and the CpG island methylator phenotype. Mutations of the APC gene and p53 mutations which are characteristic non-mucinous colorectal adenocarcinoma are less common in mucinous CRC. Both physical and anti-apoptotic properties of mucin provide mechanisms for resistance to cell death. Mucin glycoproteins are associated with decreased expression of pro-apoptotic proteins, increased expression of anti-apoptotic proteins and increased cell survival signaling. The role for BCL-2 proteins, including BCL-XL, in preventing apoptosis in mucinous CRC has been explored to a limited extent. Additional mechanisms opposing cell death include altered death receptor expression and altered mutation rates in genes responsible for chemotherapy resistance. The roles of alternate cell death programs including necroptosis and pyroptosis are not well understood in mucinous CRC. While the presence of MUC2 is associated with an immunosuppressive environment, the tumor immune environment of mucinous CRC and the role of immune-mediated tumor cell death likewise require further investigation. Improved understanding of cell death mechanisms in mucinous CRC may allow modification of currently used regimens and facilitate targeted treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emer O’Connell
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland; (E.O.); (I.S.R.); (D.A.M.); (J.P.B.)
- Department of Physiology and Medical Physics, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Ian S. Reynolds
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland; (E.O.); (I.S.R.); (D.A.M.); (J.P.B.)
- Department of Physiology and Medical Physics, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Deborah A. McNamara
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland; (E.O.); (I.S.R.); (D.A.M.); (J.P.B.)
- Department of Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - John P. Burke
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland; (E.O.); (I.S.R.); (D.A.M.); (J.P.B.)
| | - Jochen H. M. Prehn
- Department of Physiology and Medical Physics, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin 2, Ireland
- Centre for Systems Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin 2, Ireland
- Correspondence:
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