Prognostic Impact and Functional Annotations of KIF11 and KIF14 Expression in Patients with Colorectal Cancer

Genomic instability (GIN) has an important contribution to the pathology of colorectal cancer (CRC). Therefore, we selected mitosis and cytokinesis kinesins, KIF11 and KIF14, as factors of potential clinical and functional value in CRC, as their aberrant expression has been suspected to underlie GIN. We examined the expression and the prognostic and biological significance of KIF11 and KIF14 in CRC via in-house immunohistochemistry on tissue microarrays, public mRNA expression datasets, as well as bioinformatics tools. We found that KIF11 and KIF14 expression, at both the protein and mRNA level, was markedly altered in cancer tissues compared to respective controls, which was reflected in the clinical outcome of CRC patients. Specifically, we provide the first evidence that KIF11 protein and mRNA, KIF14 mRNA, as well as both proteins together, can significantly discriminate between CRC patients with better and worse overall survival independently of other relevant clinical risk factors. The negative prognostic factors for OS were high KIF11 protein, high KIF11 protein + low KIF14 protein, low KIF11 mRNA and low KIF14 mRNA. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that the gene sets related to the cell cycle, DNA replication, DNA repair and recombination, among others, were positively associated with KIF11 or KIF14 expression in CRC tissues. In TCGA cohort, the positive correlations between several measures related to GIN and the expression of KIFs were also demonstrated. In conclusion, our results suggest that CRC patients can be stratified into distinct risk categories by biological and molecular determinants, such as KIF11 and KIF14 expression and, mechanistically, this is likely attributable to their role in maintaining genome integrity.

Circulating Leptin, Adiponectin, and Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha in Patients Undergoing Surgery Due to Colorectal Cancer

BACKGROUND

Adipocytokines have been proposed as factors mediating associations between obesity and inflammation in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the clinical relationships between blood concentrations of leptin (LEP), adiponectin (ADP), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and the outcomes measured in patients with CRC undergoing surgery.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

History, body composition, and blood concentrations of LEP, ADP, and TNF-alpha were determined in 107 patients undergoing surgery due to CRC. The patients were followed up for 619.72 ± 371.65 days.

RESULTS

Compared to patients with stage II CRC, individuals with clinical stage I CRC had significantly lower ADP and higher TNF-alpha blood concentrations. We found significant correlations between the clinical stage of CRC (early vs. localized vs. metastatic) and the following: crude blood ADP concentration (R = 0.25; p = 0.015), ADP-to-TNF-alpha ratio (R = 0.31; p = 0.002), and ADP when indexed to body surface area (R = 0.25; p = 0.008) and to fat mass (R = 0.25; p = 0.016). The risk of death during the long-term follow-up period was independently related to the clinical stage of CRC, impairment of the patient's functional status, and higher blood carcinoembryonic antigen concentration. In Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, patients with blood LEP concentrations adjusted to a visceral adipose tissue score of ≥0.47 had a significantly better likelihood of surviving than their counterparts.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with CRC undergoing surgery, blood ADP and TNF-alpha concentrations were associated with the clinical stage of the cancer, likelihood of radical tumor excision, occurrence of nonsurgical postoperative complications, and long-term survival, which suggests the role of dysregulation in the endocrine function of adipose tissue in response to the neoplasmatic process.

Total blood lymphocyte count as a prognostic factor among unselected inpatients

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to determine the relationships between total lymphocyte count (TLC) and prognosis among inpatients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed data from electronic medical documentation of 54 976 inpatients hospitalized in an urban university hospital during 3 consecutive years (2014-2017).

RESULTS

TLC was available for 12 651 (23.01%) of the inpatients. Patients with TLC <0.8 G/L constituted about 15% of the inpatients studied and had the highest risk of death, hospital readmission within 14 days, hospital readmission within 30 days and hospital readmission within 1 year, the lowest values for biochemical parameters of nutritional status assessment, and the highest C-reactive protein levels. An increase in TLC was associated with reduced risk of in-hospital death (odds ratio [OR]; 95% confidence interval [CI]): 0.31; 0.27-0.36 and 14-day readmission: 0.78; 0.72-0.86. The risk of in-hospital death associated with the Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS-2002) score, blood albumin concentration, and the score for the combined values of hemoglobin, TLC, albumin and neutrophils (HLAN) was (OR; 95% CI): 2.44; 2.35-2.53; 0.32; 0.28-0.36; and 0.96; 0.94-0.97; respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

TLC < 0.8 G/L is associated with the highest risk of in-hospital death, 14-day and 30-day readmission, and longer in-hospital stay. An increase in TLC predicted in-hospital survival and freedom from early readmission with a power similar to or greater than a number of prognostic formulas based on questionnaires (e.g. NRS-2002), biochemical parameters (e.g. albumin) and formulas composed of multiple parameters (e.g. HLAN).

Blood albumin as a prognostic factor among unselected medically treated inpatients

Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the prognostic value of blood albumin (BA) in an unselected population of inpatients. Materials & methods: We performed prospective analysis of the medical documentation of 7279 patients hospitalized between July 2014 and September 2017. Results: Individuals with BA ≥3.35 mg/dl had significantly lower risk of in-hospital death (odds ratio [OR]: 0.22; 95% CI: 0.19-0.27; p < 0.001) and 14-day readmission (OR: 0.64; 95% CI: 0.55-0.77; p < 0.0001). BA concentration was the strongest favorable factor predicting inpatient survival in a Cox hazard regression model (OR: 0.43; 95% CI: 0.36-0.50; p < 0.001), did not correlate with body mass index and actual-to-ideal bodyweight ratio and was strongly affected by numerous non-nutrient factors. Conclusion: BA concentration showed similar or better predictive and diagnostic power in relation to all-cause in-hospital mortality and 14-day readmission among inpatients than selected multifactorial scores.

Characteristics and results of treatment of patients treated surgically with colorectal cancer in old and senile age

Colorectal cancer (CC) in Poland is the type of cancer with the highest dynamics of disease growth and is epidemiologically related to age. The analysis involved 353 patients operated on due to CC in senile and old age and compared with younger patients. It was found that people at this age are more often diagnosed with CC They were more often women, the patients did not differ in the stage of cancer, while they were significantly more often qualified for surgery due to urgent indications. In patients with colonic cancer, the resectability and radicality of the procedures in comparison with patients with rectal cancer was significantly higher, while there were more complications and deaths in the 30-day follow-up in this group. The overall survival in senile and old age was significantly worse. In the first year of follow-up after surgical treatment of patients in this group, complications and deaths were more frequently observed. However, in patients who survived 12 months after the operation, the overall survival rate did not significantly differ.

Surgical site infection among patients after colorectal cancer surgery

Wstęp: Zakażenie miejsca operowanego występuje u 2,5-22,3% operowanych chorych. Jest ono wykładnikiem jakości leczenia na oddziałach zabiegowych i ma duży wpływ na jego koszt. Materiał i metodyka: Analizie poddano chorych, u których w obserwacji 30-dniowej wystąpiło zakażenie miejsca operowanego. Grupę wyjściową stanowiło 1581 chorych z rozpoznaniem raka jelita grubego poddanych zabiegowi operacyjnemu w jednym ośrodku. Kryteriami wyłączającymi z badania były: brak wiarygodnej dokumentacji leczenia (szpitalnego lub ambulatoryjnego) i zgon chorego przed 30. dniem po operacji bez rozpoznanego zakażenia miejsca operowanego. Analizę statystyczną wykonano przy użyciu programu Statistica 10. Wyniki: Powikłania pooperacyjne wystąpiły u 262 chorych (16,6%). Najczęściej występującym było zakażenie miejsca operowanego (198 pacjentów; 12,52%). Stwierdzono, że wystąpienie tego powikłania zależne było od zaawansowania klinicznego raka, wieku chorych, chorób współtowarzyszących (cukrzyca i choroby kardiologiczne). Ponadto zauważono, że powikłanie to występowało znamiennie częściej u chorych operowanych w trybie pilnym z powodu powikłań oraz u tych, u których wyłoniono stomię jelitową. Nie stwierdzono natomiast zależności wystąpienia tego powikłania od płci chorych i lokalizacji guza nowotworowego. Wniosek: U chorych po operacji raka jelita grubego największe zagrożenie wystąpienia zakażenia miejsca operowanego wystąpiło u chorych po 75. roku życia, obciążonych cukrzycą i chorobami kardiologicznymi, z dużym zaawansowaniem klinicznym raka, operowanych w trybie ostrego dyżuru, u których konieczne było wyłonienie stomii jelitowej (a szczególnie kolostomii).

The fecal occult blood test as a tool for improved outpatient qualification for colonoscopy. A single-center experience and 10-year follow-up survey

PURPOSE

Colonoscopy is not widely and easily available in all countries, even for symptomatic patients. This is one of the causes of tumors not being diagnosed until an advanced stage. The aim of this study was to estimate the efficacy of the fecal occult blood test (FOBT) in the diagnostic work-up of outpatients referred to a colorectal unit due to indistinct abdominal symptoms.

PATIENTS/METHODS

Among 10418 consecutive symptomatic individuals referred to the outpatient clinic, an immunochemical FOBT (Hem-Check 1^®) was recommended for 9432 patients with indistinct symptoms as a tool for qualifying them for colonoscopy. All the subjects were treated according to their diagnosis and followed-up for the next 10 years.

RESULTS

Colorectal cancer (CRC) was diagnosed in 535 individuals: 393/986 (39.9%) among patients with red-flag symptoms, and 142/951 (14.9%) of individuals with indistinct symptoms and a positive FOBT. In the latter group, less-advanced tumors, classed as such using Dukes' classification, were twice as common and more advanced CRC occurred twice as seldom than in the former. Cancer recurrence-free and overall survival periods after surgical treatment for CRC were significantly longer in patients with indistinct symptoms who qualified for diagnostic procedures on the basis of a positive FOBT.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with symptoms suggesting organic colon disease had a worse prognosis compared to individuals with non-specific symptoms. If bowel endoscopy is not widely and easily available, qualification for colonoscopy on the basis of alarm symptoms and a positive FOBT seems to be an effective strategy in early CRC diagnosis.

Scores of nutritional risk and parameters of nutritional status assessment as predictors of in-hospital mortality and readmissions in the general hospital population

BACKGROUND & AIMS

We have no "gold standard" for the diagnosis of malnutrition. The aim of this study was to determine the importance of many of the parameters used in nutritional status screening and assessment among inpatients for the prediction of in-hospital mortality, readmission and length of hospitalization.

METHODS

On the base of the medical documentation a retrospective analysis was performed of nutritional status screening and assessment parameters for all 20,237 non-selected, consecutive hospitalizations in 15,013 patients over 18 years of age treated in one hospital during the course of one year.

RESULTS

The risk of malnutrition expressed as a Nutritional Risk Screening (NRS)-2002 score ≥ 3 concerned 6.4% hospitalizations. The greater risk of in-hospital death, as well as readmission within 14 days and 30 days, was related to an NRS-2002 score ≥3, age >65 years, male gender, urgent admission, body mass deficit calculated as the difference between actual body mass and ideal weight determined according to the Lorentz formula, higher degree of Instant Nutritional Assessment (INA), greater value of a C-reactive protein (CRP)/albumin ratio, and plasma glucose concentration. Whereas, greater blood concentration of albumin, hemoglobin, cholesterol and triglycerides, as well as a greater blood lymphocyte count, were associated with reduced risk of the measured outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

NRS-2002 score, blood albumin, CRP/albumin ratio, and INA seem to be good predictors of in-hospital mortality, readmission rate and length of hospital stay.

[Evaluation of usefulness of faecal occult blood test. Prospective screening study in patients with colorectal neoplasia]

High incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC), good treatment outcome in case of surgery performed at an early stage of the disease, and a simple, low cost and quick diagnostic test, encourage the common use of screening for CRC. The aim of the study was to examine the efficacy of immunochromatographic faecal occult blood (FOB) testing in screening for early colorectal cancer.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A total of 346 subjects with abdominal symptoms of unclear etiology were included to the study. Patients with diagnosed CRC, clinical symptoms suggesting CRC or those with family history of CRC were excluded from the study. All subjects had FOB testing done. All were subjected to sigmoidoscopy, no matter what the result of the screening test was. The sensitivity and specificity of the screening test for CRC was evaluated.

RESULTS

The total of 342 subjects aged 29-68 years (median 59 yrs), including 189 (58%) females and 153 (42%) males, were eventually qualified for the study. Colorectal pathology was found in 117 subjects (34.6%). Out of 62 patients with positive tests, 55 (89%) had a colorectal disorder diagnosed during sigmoidoscopy. The results were false positive in 7 cases. Colorectal neoplasia was recognized in 33 cases. These were neoplastic polyps (23) and adenocarcinoma (10). The great majority of neoplastic conditions were found in FOB positive subjects. The sensitivity of the test was 90%, while its specificity reached 84%. Diagnostic accuracy was 84%. Positive and negative predictive values were 15% and 99% respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

FOB testing appears highly sensitive and specific for colorectal cancer in patients with unclear abdominal symptoms.