Management of colon cancer at a tertiary referral center in India - Patterns of presentation, treatment, and survival outcomes

Application Value of High-Quality Nursing in Operating Room in Rectal Cancer Operation and its Influence on Postoperative Rehabilitation

OBJECTIVE

To study the value of high-quality care in operating room during operation of patients with rectal cancer and the effect of this nursing model on postoperative rehabilitation.

METHODS

This study recruited 72 patients with rectal cancer, including 36 in the control group and 36 in the observation group. Patients in the control group received routine care, and those in the observation group received high-quality care in operating room.

RESULTS

The anxiety score (5.50 ± .77 vs 10. 08 ± 1.13), stress score (6.97 ± .60 vs 8.61 ± .99), and depression score (4.02 ± .65 vs 5.50 ± .91) in the observation group were less than the control group after treatment (P < .05). The measured values of diastolic blood pressure (73.19 ± 1.96 vs 86.13 ± 2.0), systolic blood pressure (121.08 ± 1.62 vs 130.63 ± 2.84), heart rate (73.05 ± 1.63 vs 87.11 ± 2.91) and adrenaline E(E) (58.40 ± 3.02 vs 61.42 ± 3.86) in the observation group were less than the control group after treatment (P < .05). The cooperation degree (94.44 vs 75.00) in the observation group was greater than the control group, but the operation time (308.47 ± 9.92 vs 339.47 ± 12.70), postoperative intestinal function recovery time (16.30 ± 1.14 vs 30.94 ± 2.10) and length of stay (10.47 ± 1.85 vs 13.33 ± 1.95) were all shorter than the control group (P < .05). The nasopharyngeal temperature in the observation group was greater than the control group at 30 minutes during operation (36.16 ± .50 vs 35.19 ± .40) and after operation, and fear score (2.22 ± .42 vs 3.63 ± .72) was less than the control group (P < .05).

CONCLUSION

The application of high-quality care in the operating room during rectal cancer surgery has a significantly good clinical outcome.

Outcomes of Palliative Colonic Stent Placement in Malignant Colonic Obstruction: Experience from a Tertiary Care Oncology Center in India

Introduction Colonic self-expanding metal stent (SEMS) placement is the preferred method for palliation of malignant colonic obstruction. We analyzed outcomes of patients who underwent colonic SEMS placement for palliation at a tertiary care oncology center in Western India.

Methods Retrospective review of the endoscopy database was done for patients who underwent colonic SEMS placement at our center between January 2013 and September 2021. Demographic details, intent of stent placement, site of obstruction, length of stricture, technical success of stenting, clinical success, and complications (both immediate and long term) were noted.

Results Sixty-one patients underwent colonic SEMS placement during the study period (mean age 53.6 years, 50.7% men). Obstruction was due to primary colonic malignancy in 43 (70.5%) patients and extracolonic malignancies in 18 (29.5%) patients. Most common extracolonic malignancy was gallbladder cancer in 8 (44.4%) patients. Most common site of obstruction was sigmoid colon in 18 (29.5%) patients. Proximal colonic obstruction was seen in 17 (27.9%) patients. Peritoneal metastases were seen in 26 (42.6%) patients. Colonoscopy revealed an impassable stenosis in 58 (95.1%) patients. Median length of stricture was 5 cm (range 2–9 cm). Technical success was achieved in 98.3% (60/61). Clinical success was achieved in 51 (86.4%) patients. Perforation during colonic SEMS placement was seen in 2 (3.4%) patients. Stent migration was seen in 3 (5.9%) patients, needing surgery for retrieval in all 3 patients. Over a median follow-up of 9 months (0–21 months), stent block was seen in 7 (13.7%) patients. Stent block developed after a median period of 6 months. Of these patients, three patients underwent SEMS placement within the SEMS and the other four patients underwent surgery.

Conclusion Colonic SEMS placement achieves good palliation of malignant colonic obstruction in approximately 87% patients. Long-term complications like obstruction occur in a few patients after a median duration of 6 months.

Treating colon cancers with a non-conventional yet strategic approach: An overview of various nanoparticulate systems

Regardless of progress in therapy management which are developed for colon cancer (CC), it remains the third most common cause of mortality due to cancers around the world. Conventional medicines pose side effects due to untoward action on non-target cells. Their inability to deliver drugs to the affected regions of the colon locally, in a reproducible manner raises a concern towards the efficacy of therapy. In this regard, nanoparticles emerged as a promising drug delivery system due to their flexibility in designing, drug release modulation and cancer cell targeting. Not only are nanoparticles making their way into colon cancer research in the revolution of conventional onco-therapeutics, but they also offer promising scope in the development of colon cancer vaccines and theranostic tools. However, there are challenges with respect to drug delivery using nanoparticles, which may hamper the delivery of these novel carriers to the colon. The present review addresses recent advents in nanotechnology for colon-specific drug delivery (CDDS) which may help to overcome the existing challenges and intends to recognize futuristic potentials in the treatment of CC with CDDS.

Colorectal Cancer Genetics, Incidence and Risk Factors: In Search for Targeted Therapies

Each year, colorectal cancers (CRCs) affect over a quarter of a million people. The risk of developing CRC in industrialized nations is approximately 5%. When the disease is localised, treatment success rates range from 70-90%; however, advanced CRC has a high mortality rate, consistently ranking in the top three causes of cancer-related deaths. There is a large geographic difference in global distribution, and CRC is predominantly associated with developed countries and a Western lifestyle and diet. As such, the developed world accounts for more than 63% of all cases of CRC. Geographic variations also predict cancer outcomes, which differ between racial and ethnic groups. This variation is due to inequalities in wealth, differences in the exposure to risk factors and barriers to high-quality cancer prevention, early detection and treatment. The aim of this paper was to review CRC in low- and middle-income countries such as South Africa, India, Brazil and China, and compare them with high-income countries such as the United States of America and the United Kingdom. It is important to note that these economically less developed countries, with historically low CRC rates, are experiencing an increased frequency of CRC. The review also discusses biological markers and genetic pathways involved in the development of colorectal cancer. Genes known to be responsible for the most common forms of inherited CRCs have also been identified but more remain to be identified. This would provide more candidate genes to be added to known biomarkers. CRC burden can be controlled through the widespread application of existing knowledge, such as reduced smoking habits, vaccination, early detection and promoting physical activity, accompanied by a healthy diet. An increased understanding of the molecular mechanisms and events underlying colorectal carcinogenesis will enable the development of new targets and therapeutic drugs.