Demystifying the Differences Between Tumor-Initiating Cells and Cancer Stem Cells in Colon Cancer
AbstractPurpose of ReviewTumor-initiating cells and cancer stem cells refer to a subpopulation of self-renewing cells involved in tumor initiation and tumor maintenance, respectively. With this review, we aimed to define the functional and molecular differences between both cell types in the context of colon cancer.Recent FindingsRecent evidence suggests that the two major stem cell populations in the normal intestinal crypt have tumor-initiating capacity and could be the cell-of-origin in colon cancer. Activation of the Wnt/ β-catenin pathway (an early event in mouse intestinal carcinogenesis) in the crypt base columnar ...
Source: Current Colorectal Cancer Reports - October 31, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
The Role of Energy Balance on Colorectal Cancer Survival
The objective of the current review was to describe the role of energy balance on survival and the potential mechanisms of this relationship in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC).Recent FindingsEnergy balance consists of total energy expenditure and dietary intake over time, although these components have been sparsely characterized in CRC. Several large trials have suggested that BMI around 28 kg/m2 at diagnosis is most advantageous for survival and that severe weight loss (i.e., body mass index loss ≥ 7% or ≥ 10% baseline weight) is associated with poor survival. These patterns are likely due to skeletal mus...
Source: Current Colorectal Cancer Reports - October 31, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
The Role of HER2 Testing in Advanced Colorectal Cancer
AbstractPurpose of ReviewAbout 1/3 of all metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients may harbor a mutation in theKRAS orNRAS gene suggesting inefficacy of EGFR inhibitors cetuximab and panitumumab. In spite of tailoring treatment inRAS wild-type patients to receive EGFR inhibitors, not all show response.Recent FindingsStudies have shown that HER2-neu amplification/alteration in addition to alteration inBRAF andPI3KA may explain resistance to EGFR inhibitors. Several pre-clinical studies have identified that HER2-neu amplification can result in both de novo and acquired resistance to EGFR inhibitors. Recently, several cli...
Source: Current Colorectal Cancer Reports - October 29, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Insights Into the Relationship Between Gut Microbiota and Colorectal Cancer
AbstractPurpose of reviewThere is growing evidence to suggest that gut microbiota plays an important role in colorectal carcinogenesis. Western diet is associated with gut microbial dysbiosis, which leads to inflammation, oxidative stress, and genotoxic effects, all common risk factors for colorectal cancer.Recent findingsFusobacterium nucleatum,Helicobacter pylori,Bacteroides fragilis,Escherichia coli,and Streptococcus bovis are the main bacterial species associated with colorectal carcinogenesis. Gut microbiota transforms both diet- (meat, processed meat products, fat) and host (bile acids)-derived precursors into carcin...
Source: Current Colorectal Cancer Reports - October 22, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Microbiome and Colorectal Cancer
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe trillions of microbes collectively referred to as the human microbiota inhabit the human body and establish a beneficial relationship with the host. It is clear however that dysbiosis impacting microbial diversity in the gut may lead to the development of inflammatory and malignant gastrointestinal diseases including colorectal cancer (CRC). We provide a literature review of the recent influx of information related to the alterations in gut microbiota composition that influences CRC incidence and progression.Recent FindingsA growing body of evidence implicates altered gut microbiota in the deve...
Source: Current Colorectal Cancer Reports - October 11, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Total Neoadjuvant Therapy (TNT) in Rectal Cancer
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThis review summarizes the relevant literature on the use of total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. It highlights the most notable literature published and briefly discusses future directions.Recent FindingsRecent randomized trials evaluating TNT show improved rates of pathologic complete response and patient treatment tolerance with this approach.SummaryThe rationale for TNT includes the poor patient tolerance of adjuvant chemotherapy and the persistent risk of distant disease in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer, despite improvements in local ...
Source: Current Colorectal Cancer Reports - October 9, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
What Is the Best Systemic Therapy for Left-sided RAS Wild-type Metastatic Colorectal Cancer?
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThere is a significant difference in embryological origin, gene expression, gene mutation profile, and microbiome between the right-sided and left-sided colon. It has been shown that the sidedness of primary colorectal cancer is a significant prognostic factor and predictive to the clinical benefit of anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibody-containing chemotherapy in patients with metastatic CRC. Herein, current clinical recommendations for the treatment of patients with left-sidedRAS wild-type mCRC are reviewed.Recent FindingsRetrospective analyses of prior randomized trials (CRYSTAL...
Source: Current Colorectal Cancer Reports - October 2, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
The Role of Liver-Directed Therapy in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
AbstractPurpose of ReviewColorectal cancer liver metastasis is a major clinical problem, and surgical resection is the only potentially curative treatment. We seek to discuss various liver-directed therapy modalities and explore their roles in the evolving realm of treatment strategies for metastatic colorectal cancer.Recent FindingsClinical outcomes for patients with colorectal cancer liver metastases have improved as more patients undergo potentially curative resection and as the armamentarium of systemic treatment and liver-directed therapies continues to expand. Liver-directed therapies have been developed as adjuncts ...
Source: Current Colorectal Cancer Reports - October 1, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Evolving Tissue and Circulating Biomarkers as Prognostic and Predictive Tools in Colorectal Cancer
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe success of precision medicine relies heavily on biomarkers. Validated biomarkers that help stratify risk and guide treatments in patients with colorectal cancers are limited. With advances in genomics, immune landscapes and technological assays, there are increasing numbers of biomarkers that show potential to guide treatment decisions in the clinic. In this article, we review the key emerging biomarkers including tissue-based gene-based expression biomarkers, microRNA and immune signatures along with circulating tumour DNA in plasma, biomarkers of anti-angiogenic agents.Recent FindingsMismatch...
Source: Current Colorectal Cancer Reports - October 1, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Young Patients with Colorectal Cancer: Risk, Screening, and Treatment
AbstractPurpose of ReviewWhile the incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer have been declining in the USA in the last decades, there is a considerable increase in the incidence of this malignancy in the young adult patients. Several environmental and genetic factors have been studied and known to be associated with colorectal cancer. However, the exact causes of this increase are not clear. Therefore, in this review, we aimed to provide insights in terms of novel findings and avenues of research that may lead to a better way to treat this population of patients.Recent FindingsObesity and its associated behaviors, such...
Source: Current Colorectal Cancer Reports - October 1, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Molecular Variances Between Right- and Left-sided Colon Cancers
AbstractPurpose of ReviewDuring the past few years, several important clinical and molecular differences have been observed simply based on anatomic tumor location of colorectal cancer. With this review, we aimed to give an updated overview of the recent findings on tumor location as a surrogate of embryological, molecular, and clinical differences that have a direct impact on our daily clinical practice.Recent FindingsIncreasing evidence has demonstrated a role for the microbiota in shaping inflammatory environments and promoting CRC growth and spread, and now we know that bacterial phylotypes vary depending on the primar...
Source: Current Colorectal Cancer Reports - October 1, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Overview of Microsatellite Instability and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Colorectal Cancer
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThis review examines the pathophysiological features of microsatellite instability (MSI) high colorectal cancer and discusses recent clinical studies of immune checkpoint inhibitors for MSI high colorectal cancer.Recent FindingsEmerging clinical data demonstrated durable clinical activity and safety of PD-1 blockade agents in diverse cancers, and PD-1 blockade agents have led to a paradigm shift in the cancer therapy. Although initial clinical data showed disappointing result of anti-PD-1 therapy in unselected metastatic colorectal cancer, recent data demonstrated promising results with significant...
Source: Current Colorectal Cancer Reports - September 28, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
The Role of Liver-Directed Therapy in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
AbstractPurpose of ReviewColorectal cancer liver metastasis is a major clinical problem, and surgical resection is the only potentially curative treatment. We seek to discuss various liver-directed therapy modalities and explore their roles in the evolving realm of treatment strategies for metastatic colorectal cancer.Recent FindingsClinical outcomes for patients with colorectal cancer liver metastases have improved as more patients undergo potentially curative resection and as the armamentarium of systemic treatment and liver-directed therapies continues to expand. Liver-directed therapies have been developed as adjuncts ...
Source: Current Colorectal Cancer Reports - September 13, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
