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 - August 31, 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 - August 17, 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 - August 16, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Preoperative Selection and Optimization for Liver Resection in Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases
AbstractPurpose of ReviewColorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in incidence and the leading cause of death among males and females. Colorectal cancer liver metastatic disease (CRCLM) is the most common cause of death in these patients. Liver resection is the best treatment modality to be offered for CRCLM patients; however, most patients are not good candidates for liver resection. The scope of this review is to discuss the preoperative selection process and the optimization methods that can be used to maximize the eligibility for liver resection in CRCLM.Recent FindingsThe advancement in perioperative manageme...
Source: Current Colorectal Cancer Reports - August 1, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Deciphering the Far-Reaching Functions of Non-coding RNA in Colorectal Cancer
AbstractPurpose of ReviewColorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the deadliest forms of cancer worldwide, and researchers are continuously striving to discover novel therapeutic targets and treatment methods. Many of the molecular mechanisms central to CRC development and progression have yet to be elucidated. The goal of this review is to highlight the most recent findings and theories behind the role of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in CRC.Recent FindingsRecent work has indicated that ncRNAs, RNA molecules that are not translated into protein, play significant roles in cellular events directly affecting CRC cell proliferation, migr...
Source: Current Colorectal Cancer Reports - August 1, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Functional Imaging Predictors of Response to Chemoradiation
AbstractPurpose of ReviewEarly prediction of response to chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer has the potential to minimize surgical intervention in patients with complete response, while allowing non-responding patients to explore more aggressive treatments. Functional imaging detection of tumoral microstructural and metabolic changes presents a valuable tool for preoperative chemoradiation response assessment.Recent FindingsDiffusion-weighted MRI has increasingly been incorporated into study protocols, with the apparent diffusion coefficient largely found to be the most robust global predictor of neoadjuva...
Source: Current Colorectal Cancer Reports - August 1, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Current Trends on the Status of Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery
AbstractPurpose of ReviewTransanal endoscopic surgery (TES) is the standard of care for the local excision of large rectal adenomas and selected rectal cancers: an “en bloc” full-thickness local excision is performed, with limited risk of specimen fragmentation and positive resection margins, and subsequent significantly lower risk of recurrence and better survival than after conventional transanal excision with retractors. We perform a literature review a iming at assessing the current trends on the status of TES.Recent FindingsPatients undergoing TES report significantly lower rates of postoperative complications and...
Source: Current Colorectal Cancer Reports - August 1, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Deciphering the Far-Reaching Functions of Non-coding RNA in Colorectal Cancer
AbstractPurpose of ReviewColorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the deadliest forms of cancer worldwide, and researchers are continuously striving to discover novel therapeutic targets and treatment methods. Many of the molecular mechanisms central to CRC development and progression have yet to be elucidated. The goal of this review is to highlight the most recent findings and theories behind the role of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in CRC.Recent FindingsRecent work has indicated that ncRNAs, RNA molecules that are not translated into protein, play significant roles in cellular events directly affecting CRC cell proliferation, migr...
Source: Current Colorectal Cancer Reports - July 23, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Preoperative Selection and Optimization for Liver Resection in Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases
AbstractPurpose of ReviewColorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in incidence and the leading cause of death among males and females. Colorectal cancer liver metastatic disease (CRCLM) is the most common cause of death in these patients. Liver resection is the best treatment modality to be offered for CRCLM patients; however, most patients are not good candidates for liver resection. The scope of this review is to discuss the preoperative selection process and the optimization methods that can be used to maximize the eligibility for liver resection in CRCLM.Recent FindingsThe advancement in perioperative manageme...
Source: Current Colorectal Cancer Reports - July 12, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Functional Imaging Predictors of Response to Chemoradiation
AbstractPurpose of ReviewEarly prediction of response to chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer has the potential to minimize surgical intervention in patients with complete response, while allowing non-responding patients to explore more aggressive treatments. Functional imaging detection of tumoral microstructural and metabolic changes presents a valuable tool for preoperative chemoradiation response assessment.Recent FindingsDiffusion-weighted MRI has increasingly been incorporated into study protocols, with the apparent diffusion coefficient largely found to be the most robust global predictor of neoadjuva...
Source: Current Colorectal Cancer Reports - June 28, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Current Trends on the Status of Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery
AbstractPurpose of ReviewTransanal endoscopic surgery (TES) is the standard of care for the local excision of large rectal adenomas and selected rectal cancers: an “en bloc” full-thickness local excision is performed, with limited risk of specimen fragmentation and positive resection margins, and subsequent significantly lower risk of recurrence and better survival than after conventional transanal excision with retractors. We perform a literature review a iming at assessing the current trends on the status of TES.Recent FindingsPatients undergoing TES report significantly lower rates of postoperative complications and...
Source: Current Colorectal Cancer Reports - June 22, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Outcomes of Rectal Cancer Patients With Low Sphincter-Preserving Operations Compared to Patients With Abdominoperineal Resection
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe surgical management for low rectal cancer patients has evolved as a result of the introduction of preoperative chemoradiotherapy and innovative technical developments. As a result, abdominoperineal resection (APR) for low rectal cancer has decreased over time. Further, the introduction of intersphincteric resection and preoperative chemoradiotherapy has made it possible to proceed with sphincter preservation. However, the oncologic and functional outcomes of intersphincteric resection have been questioned because of the narrow radical margin and sphincter excision. We review the literature to e...
Source: Current Colorectal Cancer Reports - June 1, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Watch-and-Wait as a Therapeutic Strategy in Rectal Cancer
AbstractPurpose of ReviewPathological complete response is seen in approximately one fifth of rectal cancer patients following neoadjuvant chemoradiation. Since these patients have excellent oncological outcomes, there has been a rapidly growing interest in organ preservation for those who develop a clinical complete response. We review the watch-and-wait strategy and focus on all aspects of this hot topic, including who should be considered for this approach, how should we identify treatment response and what are the expected outcomes.Recent FindingsThe major challenges in interpreting the data on watch-and-wait are the s...
Source: Current Colorectal Cancer Reports - April 1, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
The Molecular Basis of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
AbstractPurpose of ReviewMetastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) is a vexing clinical problem. In contrast to early-stage disease, once CRC metastasizes to other organs, long-term survival is compromised. We seek to review the molecular pathogenesis, animal models, and functional genomics for an enhanced understanding of how CRC metastasizes and how this can be exploited therapeutically.Recent FindingsMouse models may recapitulate certain aspects of metastatic human CRC and allow for studies to identify regulators of metastasis. Modulation of transcription factors, onco-proteins, or tumor suppressors has been identified to acti...
Source: Current Colorectal Cancer Reports - April 1, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
