A population-based study on the prognostic impact of primary tumor sidedness in patients with peritoneal metastases from colon cancer

The Use of CellCollector Assay to Detect Free Cancer Cells in the Peritoneal Cavity of Colorectal Cancer Patients: An Experimental Study

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is associated with high incidence and mortality rates globally. The presence of intraperitoneal free cancer cells (IFCCs) is recognized as an independent prognostic factor for CRC patients. However, a clinical gold standard for IFCCs detection is lacking. The GILUPI CellCollector has demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity in detecting free cancer cells, yet its application for CRC IFCCs detection remains unreported.

METHODS

We selected CRC and normal cell lines to evaluate the CellCollector's ability to detect tumor cells. A total of 70 CRC patients and 17 patients with benign disease undergoing laparoscopic procedures were investigated. Peritoneal lavage fluid was collected pre- and post-operation, and both real-time PCR (CEA mRNA) and CellCollector detection were performed. We compared the sensitivity and specificity of these two methods.

RESULTS

CellCollector can distinguish well between CRC and normal cells in cell line experiments. CellCollector detects IFCCs better than real-time PCR (CEA) in CRC patients in different TNM Stages. The sensitivity of CellCollector was higher than that of real-time PCR (84.6% vs. 48.4%), and the specificity of CellCollector was also higher than real-time PCR (79.1% vs. 60.4%). There was no significant difference in the results of IFCCs detected by CellCollector before and after total mesorectal excision (TME) or complete mesocolic excision (CME) radical colorectomy (p > 0.05), but there was a significant difference in real-time PCR detection (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The CellCollector demonstrates superior sensitivity and specificity compared to real-time PCR for detecting IFCCs in CRC patients, suggesting its potential as a clinical tool for IFCCs detection.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01978444.

Long noncoding RNA small nucleolar RNA host gene 1 as a potential novel biomarker for intraperitoneal free cancer cells in colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a prevalent cancer with intraperitoneal free cancer cells (IFCCs) playing a significant role in prognosis, especially during surgeries. The identification of IFCCs is crucial for determining the stage and treatment of patients with CRC. Existing methods for IFCC detection, such as conventional cytology, immunocytochemistry (ICC), and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), have limitations in sensitivity and specificity. This study investigates the potential of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) SNHG1 as a biomarker for detecting IFCCs in patients with CRC. Testing on a cohort of 91 patients with CRC and 26 patients with gastrointestinal benign disease showed that SNHG1 outperformed CEA in distinguishing CRC cells and detecting IFCCs across different disease stages. SNHG1 demonstrated higher sensitivity (76.1% vs. 43.1%) and specificity (68.4% vs. 52.3%) than CEA for IFCC detection in patients with CRC, suggesting its promising role as a clinical method for identifying IFCCs in CRC.

Prognostic value of primary tumor location in colorectal cancer: an updated meta-analysis

The clinical, histological, and molecular differences between right-sided colon cancer (RCC) and left-sided colon cancer (RCC) have received considerable attention. Over the past decade, many articles have been published concerning the association between primary tumor location (PTL) of colorectal cancer and survival outcomes. Therefore, there is a growing need for an updated meta-analysis integrating the outcomes of recent studies to determine the prognostic role of right vs left-sidedness of PTL in patients with colorectal cancer. We conducted a comprehensive database review using PubMed, SCOPUS, and Cochrane library databases from February 2016 to March 2023 for prospective or retrospective studies reporting data on overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) of RCC compared with LCC. A total of 60 cohort studies comprising 1,494,445 patients were included in the meta-analysis. We demonstrated that RCC is associated with a significantly increased risk of death compared with LCC by 25% (hazard ratio (HR), 1.25; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.19-1.31; I2 = 78.4%; Z = 43.68). Results showed that patients with RCC have a worse OS compared with LCC only in advanced stages (Stage III: HR, 1.275; 95% CI 1.16-1.4; P = 0.0002; I2 = 85.8%; Stage IV: HR, 1.34; 95% CI 1.25-1.44; P < 0.0001; I2 = 69.2%) but not in primary stages (Stage I/II: HR, 1.275; 95% CI 1.16-1.4; P = 0.0002; I2 = 85.8%). Moreover, a meta-analysis of 13 studies including 812,644 patients revealed that there is no significant difference in CSS between RCC and LCC (HR, 1.121; 95% CI 0.97-1.3; P = 0.112). Findings from the present meta-analysis highlight the importance of PTL in clinical decision-making for patients with CRC, especially in advanced stages. We provide further evidence supporting the hypothesis that RCC and LCC are distinct disease entities that should be managed differently.

Ubiquitinomics revealed disease- and stage-specific patterns relevant for the 3PM approach in human sigmoid colon cancers

Objective

The patients with sigmoid colorectal cancer commonly show high mortality and poor prognosis. Increasing evidence has demonstrated that the ubiquitinated proteins and ubiquitination-mediated molecular pathways influence the growth and aggressiveness of colorectal cancer. It emphasizes the scientific merits of quantitative ubiquitinomics in human sigmoid colon cancer. We hypothesize that the ubiquitinome and ubiquitination-mediated pathway networks significantly differ in sigmoid colon cancers compared to controls, which offers the promise for in-depth insight into molecular mechanisms, discovery of effective therapeutic targets, and construction of reliable biomarkers in the framework of predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine (PPPM; 3P medicine).

Methods

The first ubiquitinome analysis was performed with anti-K-ε-GG antibody beads (PTMScan ubiquitin remnant motif [K-ε-GG])-based label-free quantitative proteomics and bioinformatics to identify and quantify ubiquitination profiling between sigmoid colon cancer tissues and para-carcinoma tissues. A total of 100 human sigmoid colon cancer samples that included complete clinical information and the corresponding gene expression data were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Ubiquitination was the main way of protein degradation; the relationships between differentially ubiquitinated proteins (DUPs) and their differently expressed genes (DEGs) and between DUPs and their differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were analyzed between cancer tissues and control tissues. The overall survival of those DUPs was obtained with Kaplan-Meier method.

Results

A total of 1249 ubiquitinated sites within 608 DUPs were identified in human sigmoid colon cancer tissues. KEGG pathway network analysis of these DUPs revealed 35 statistically significant signaling pathways, such as salmonella infection, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, and ferroptosis. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis of 608 DUPs revealed that protein ubiquitination was involved in 98 biological processes, 64 cellular components, 51 molecule functions, and 26 immune system processes. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of 608 DUPs revealed multiple high-combined scores and co-expressed DUPs. The relationship analysis between DUPs and their DEGs found 4 types of relationship models, including DUP-up (increased ubiquitination level) and DEG-up (increased gene expression), DUP-up and DEG-down (decreased gene expression), DUP-down (decreased ubiquitination level) and DEG-up, and DUP-down and DEG-down. The relationship analysis between DUPs and their DEPs found 4 types of relationship models, including DUP-up and DEP-up (increased protein expression), DUP-up and DEP-down (decreased protein expression), DUP-down and DEP-up, and DUP-down and DEP-down. Survival analysis found 46 overall survival-related DUPs in sigmoid colon cancer, and the drug sensitivity of overall survival-related DUPs were identified.

Conclusion

The study provided the first differentially ubiquitinated proteomic profiling, ubiquitination-involved signaling pathway network changes, and the relationship models between protein ubiquitination and its gene expression and between protein ubiquitination and its protein expression, in human sigmoid colon cancer. It offers the promise for deep insights into molecular mechanisms of sigmoid colon cancer, and discovery of effective therapeutic targets and biomarkers for patient stratification, predictive diagnosis, prognostic assessment, and personalized treatment in the context of 3P medicine.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13167-023-00328-2.

Impact of Primary Tumor Location and Genomic Alterations on Survival Following Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemoperfusion for Colorectal Peritoneal Metastases

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer leads to peritoneal metastases (CRPM) in 10% of cases. Cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemoperfusion (CRS-HIPEC) improves survival. Primary tumor location and abnormalities in RAS, BRAF, and mismatch repair/microsatellite stability (MMR/MSI) may affect post-CRS-HIPEC survival, but studies have not been consistent. We estimated the effects of primary tumor site and genomic alterations on post-CRS-HIPEC survival.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included CRS-HIPEC cases for CRPM at a high-volume center from 2001 to 2020. Next-generation sequencing and microsatellite testing defined the RAS, BRAF, and MMR/MSI genotypes. Adjusted effects of tumor sidedness and genomics on survival were evaluated using a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model. We analyzed these variables' effects on progression-free survival and the effects of immune checkpoint-inhibitors.

RESULTS

A total of 250 patients underwent CRS-HIPEC with testing for RAS, BRAF, and MMR/MSI; 50.8% of patients were RAS-mutated, 12.4% were BRAF-mutated, and 6.8% were deficient-MMR/MSI-high (dMMR/MSI-H). Genomic alterations predominated in right-sided cancers. After adjustment for comorbidities and oncological and perioperative variables, rectal origin [hazard ratio (HR) 1.9, p = 0.01], RAS mutation (HR 1.6, p = 0.01), and BRAF mutation (HR 1.7, p = 0.05) were associated with worse survival. RAS mutation was also associated with shorter progression-free survival (HR 1.6, p = 0.01 at 6 months post-operatively), and dMMR/MSI-H status was associated with superior survival (HR 0.3, p = 0.01 at 2 years). dMMR/MSI-H patients receiving immune checkpoint-inhibitors trended toward superior survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Rectal origin, RAS mutations, and BRAF mutations are each associated with poorer survival after CRS-HIPEC for CRPM. Patients with CRPM and dMMR/MSI-H status have superior survival. Further research should evaluate benefits of immune checkpoint-inhibitors in this subgroup.

Development and validation of a nomogram for predicting metachronous peritoneal metastasis in colorectal cancer: A retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Peritoneal metastasis (PM) after primary surgery for colorectal cancer (CRC) has the worst prognosis. Prediction and early detection of metachronous PM (m-PM) have an important role in improving postoperative prognosis of CRC. However, commonly used imaging methods have limited sensitivity to detect PM early. We aimed to establish a nomogram model to evaluate the individual probability of m-PM to facilitate early interventions for high-risk patients.

AIM

To establish and validate a nomogram model for predicting the occurrence of m-PM in CRC within 3 years after surgery.

METHODS

We used the clinical data of 878 patients at the Second Hospital of Jilin University, between January 1, 2014 and January 31, 2019. The patients were randomly divided into training and validation cohorts at a ratio of 2:1. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression was performed to identify the variables with nonzero coefficients to predict the risk of m-PM. Multivariate logistic regression was used to verify the selected variables and to develop the predictive nomogram model. Harrell’s concordance index, receiver operating characteristic curve, Brier score, and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to evaluate discrimination, distinctiveness, validity, and clinical utility of this nomogram model. The model was verified internally using bootstrapping method and verified externally using validation cohort.

RESULTS

LASSO regression analysis identified six potential risk factors with nonzero coefficients. Multivariate logistic regression confirmed the risk factors to be independent. Based on the results of two regression analyses, a nomogram model was established. The nomogram included six predictors: Tumor site, histological type, pathological T stage, carbohydrate antigen 125, v-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B mutation and microsatellite instability status. The model achieved good predictive accuracy on both the training and validation datasets. The C-index, area under the curve, and Brier scores were 0.796, 0.796 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.735-0.856], and 0.081 for the training cohort and 0.782, 0.782 (95%CI 0.690-0.874), and 0.089 for the validation cohort, respectively. DCA showed that when the threshold probability was between 0.01 and 0.90, using this model to predict m-PM achieved a net clinical benefit.

CONCLUSION

We have established and validated a nomogram model to predict m-PM in patients undergoing curative surgery, which shows good discrimination and high accuracy.

Differences in the distribution of peritoneal metastases in right- versus left-sided colon cancer on MRI

PURPOSE

Right-sided colon tumors with peritoneal metastases (PM) are associated with a poorer prognosis than left-sided tumors. We hypothesized that a different pattern of spread could be characterized with abdominopelvic MRI. The objective of this study was to explore the spread of PM in relation to the primary tumor location on MRI.

METHODS

This is a retrospective cohort study of patients with PM from colon cancer referred to be considered for CRS-HIPEC at a single tertiary referral center. Patients with colon cancer were eligible if they had undergone an abdominopelvic MRI scan following a clinical diagnosis of PM. The frequency of affected PCI regions on MRI (MRI-PCI) was assessed and compared between tumor sidedness.

RESULTS

One hundred eighteen patients were included with a median age of 65 (IQR: 56-72). 46% percent were male. The median MRI-PCI was 10 (IQR: 5-16) and 8 (IQR: 4-11) for right- and left-sided tumors, respectively (p = 0.39), and the median number of affected regions was 4 (IQR: 2-7 for right-sided and IQR 2-5 for left-sided tumors). PM was most frequently found close to the primary tumor. The odds ratio of patients with PM of left sided to be affected with PM in the upper abdominal regions was 0.42 (95% CI: 0.20-0.90) and with PM on the small bowels or mesentery was 0.42 (95% CI: 0.19-0.92) over a patient with PM of right-sided colon cancer.

CONCLUSION

MRI can help to assess the spread of PM in colonic cancer. In right-sided tumors, the small bowel and upper abdominal regions are more frequently affected.

The primary tumor location in colorectal cancer: A focused review on its impact on surgical management

The primary tumor location (PTL) has attracted increasing attention in recent years for colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Although the underlying mechanisms for differences caused by PTL remain still unclear, right-sided colon (RCC) and left-sided colon (LCC) are now considered as distinct entities because of their different molecular profile and clinical response to surgery and chemotherapy. In this article, we review the influence of PTL particularly on surgical management of primary and metastatic CRC settings. For nonmetastatic CRC, RCC could be a slightly superior prognostic factor after curative resection in stage I-II CRC, while RCC could be an inferior prognostic factor in stage III CRC with worse survival after recurrence, suggesting the oncological aggressiveness of recurrent RCC. For metastatic CRC, RCC could be a predictor of worse survival after hepatectomy of liver metastases from CRC with aggressive recurrence pattern and lower chance of re-resection. In lung metastases from CRC, the role of PTL still remains uncertain because of the limited number of studies. As to the impact of PTL on survival outcome after cytoreductive surgery plus hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy for peritoneal metastases from CRC, a discrepancy exists among studies and further investigation will be needed. The very simple clinical factor of PTL could provide important information for the prediction of the survival outcome after surgery in CRC. Further clinical and basic research will facilitate the clinical application of PTL in a more specified and personalized manner.

The primary tumor location in colorectal cancer: A focused review on its impact on surgical management

The primary tumor location (PTL) has attracted increasing attention in recent years for colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Although the underlying mechanisms for differences caused by PTL remain still unclear, right-sided colon (RCC) and left-sided colon (LCC) are now considered as distinct entities because of their different molecular profile and clinical response to surgery and chemotherapy. In this article, we review the influence of PTL particularly on surgical management of primary and metastatic CRC settings. For nonmetastatic CRC, RCC could be a slightly superior prognostic factor after curative resection in stage I-II CRC, while RCC could be an inferior prognostic factor in stage III CRC with worse survival after recurrence, suggesting the oncological aggressiveness of recurrent RCC. For metastatic CRC, RCC could be a predictor of worse survival after hepatectomy of liver metastases from CRC with aggressive recurrence pattern and lower chance of re-resection. In lung metastases from CRC, the role of PTL still remains uncertain because of the limited number of studies. As to the impact of PTL on survival outcome after cytoreductive surgery plus hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy for peritoneal metastases from CRC, a discrepancy exists among studies and further investigation will be needed. The very simple clinical factor of PTL could provide important information for the prediction of the survival outcome after surgery in CRC. Further clinical and basic research will facilitate the clinical application of PTL in a more specified and personalized manner.

A population-based study on the prognostic impact of primary tumor sidedness in patients with peritoneal metastases from colon cancer

Primary tumor location is an established prognostic factor in patients with (metastatic) colon cancer. Colon tumors can be divided into left‐sided and right‐sided tumors. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of primary tumor location on treatment and overall survival (OS) in patients with peritoneal metastases (PM) from colon cancer. This study is a retrospective, population‐based cohort study. Records of patients diagnosed with colon cancer and synchronous PM, from 1995 through 2016, were retrieved from the Netherlands Cancer Registry (NCR). Data on diagnosis, staging, and treatment were extracted from the medical records by specifically trained NCR personnel. Information on survival status was updated annually using a computerized link with the national civil registry. In total, 7930 patients were included in this study; 4555 (57.4%) had a right‐sided and 3375 (42.6%) had a left‐sided primary tumor. In multivariable analysis right‐sided primary tumor was associated with worse OS (HR: 1.11, 95% CI 1.03‐1.19, P = .007). Of all patients diagnosed with PM, 564 (7.1%) underwent cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS‐HIPEC). Patients with left‐sided primary tumors were more often candidates for CRS‐HIPEC (6.5% vs. 8.0%, P = .008). OS of patients with right‐ and left‐sided tumors who underwent CRS‐HIPEC did not significantly differ. In conclusion, primary right‐sided colon cancer was an independent prognostic factor for decreased OS in patients diagnosed with synchronous PM. In patients treated with CRS‐HIPEC location of the primary tumor did not influence survival.