Cronkhite-Canada syndrome showing elevated levels of antinuclear and anticentromere antibody

Cronkhite‒Canada syndrome as inflammatory hamartomatous polyposis: new evidence from whole transcriptome sequencing of colonic polyps

BACKGROUND

Cronkhite-Canada syndrome (CCS) is a rare, nonhereditary disease characterized by diffuse gastrointestinal polyposis and ectodermal abnormalities. Although it has been proposed to be a chronic inflammatory condition, direct evidence of its pathogenesis is lacking. This study aims to investigate the pathophysiology of CCS by analyzing transcriptomic changes in the colonic microenvironment.

METHODS

Next-generation sequencing-based genome-wide transcriptional profiling was performed on colonic hamartomatous polyps from four CCS patients and normal colonic mucosa from four healthy volunteers. Analyses of differential expression and multiple enrichment analyses were conducted from the molecular level to the cellular level. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was carried out to validate the sequencing accuracy in samples from six CCS patients and six healthy volunteers.

RESULTS

A total of 543 differentially expressed genes were identified, including an abundance of CC- and CXC-chemokines. Innate immune response-related pathways and processes, such as leukocyte chemotaxis, cytokine production, IL-17, TNF, IL-1 and NF-kB signaling pathways, were prominently enhanced in CCS colonic polyps. Upregulation of wound healing, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, Wnt, and PI3K-Akt signaling pathways were also observed. Enrichment analyses at different levels identified extracellular structure disorganization, dysfunction of the gut mucosal barrier, and increased angiogenesis. Validation by qRT-PCR confirmed increased expression of the LCN2, IL1B, CXCL1, and CXCL3 genes in CCS colonic polyps.

CONCLUSIONS

This case-control whole transcriptome analysis of active CCS colonic hamartomatous polyps revealed intricate molecular pathways, emphasizing the role of the innate immune response, extracellular matrix disorganization, inflammatory cell infiltration, increased angiogenesis, and potential epithelial to mesenchymal transition. These findings supports CCS as a chronic inflammatory condition and sheds light on potential therapeutic targets, paving the way for more effective and personalized management of CCS in the future.

Comprehensive treatment of Cronkhite-Canada syndrome: A case report and literature review

INTRODUCTION

Cronkhite-Canada syndrome (CCS) is currently considered to be a non-hereditary disease, which is relatively rare clinically. It is also known as polyposis hyperpigmentation alopecia nail dystrophy syndrome, it is a syndrome characterized by gastrointestinal polyposis and ectodermal changes, the main manifestations are gastrointestinal symptoms, skin pigmentation, alopecia, and hypothyroidism.

CASE PRESENTATION

In this paper, the clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment of a case of CCS admitted to Huanghe Sanmenxia Hospital were analyzed. In the course of treatment, traditional Chinese medicine was used, but no hormone, and the patient's clinical symptoms were greatly relieved.

CONCLUSIONS

CCS is rare, there is no specific treatment, and traditional Chinese medicine may can greatly relieve the clinical symptoms of patients. However, it's still having to be verified by a large sample, multi-center, long-term treatment follow-up studies.

Clinical and Endoscopic Response to Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha Antibody Therapy in a Patient With Cronkhite-Canada Syndrome

Cronkhite-Canada syndrome (CCS) is an acquired polyposis syndrome with gastrointestinal and extraintestinal manifestations. Given its rarity and lack of standard treatment, diagnosis and treatment are challenging. Steroid therapy and nutritional support are conventional treatments. There is no consensus on management of steroid-refractory cases. Here, we report the diagnosis and treatment course of a 54-year-old Asian male with CCS, whose initial treatment with prednisone 60 mg a day led to partial response and disease flare up during prednisone tapering. The use of infliximab and azathioprine led to promising remission of his symptoms.

Cronkhite-Canada syndrome: An investigation in clinical features and pathogenesis

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the clinical features and potential pathogenesis of a rare nonhereditary polyposis syndrome, Cronkhite-Canada syndrome (CCS).

METHODS

Medical records of eight patients with CCS who were admitted to our hospital from January 2005 to November 2019 were reviewed. Transcriptome profiling was performed in one patient to investigate its difference between gastric polyp tissue and normal mucosa. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were determined for functional analysis. The expression of inhibin beta A (INHBA) was further assessed by using immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

All patients presented with gastrointestinal polyposis, accompanied by diarrhea, skin hyperpigmentation, hair loss and nail dystrophy. Hyperplastic polyps were observed in seven patients, tubular adenoma in two, inflammatory polyps in one and hamartomatous polyps in one, respectively. All patients underwent comprehensive treatment and five achieved clinical remission. A total of 2107 DEGs, including 1265 upregulated and 842 downregulated, were found in the gastric polyp. Gene ontology analysis showed that upregulated genes were significantly enriched in the positive regulation of cell proliferation, epithelium development and angiogenesis. A protein-protein interaction analysis suggested that INHBA was at the center of the interaction network and might play an important role in CCS. Immunohistochemistry confirmed that INHBA expression was upregulated in CCS gastric polyps.

CONCLUSIONS

CCS is a rare disease and its diagnosis mainly depends on typical clinical manifestations, endoscopic findings and histological features. INHBA upregulation may contribute to its pathogenesis.

Aplastic Anemia in a Patient with Cronkhite-Canada Syndrome

Cronkhite-Canada syndrome (CCS) is a rare polyposis disorder accompanied by alopecia and onychodystrophy. A 63-year-old man with a history of CCS and repeated embolism developed progressive thrombocytopenia and mild anemia. Laboratory testing, a bone marrow examination, and magnetic resonance imaging of the spine resulted in a diagnosis of concurrent aplastic anemia (AA). Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH)-type cells were detected in a peripheral blood specimen. In addition, human leukocyte antigen (HLA) included DRB1*15:01 and DRB1*15:02. Mesalazine was discontinued in consideration of possible drug-induced pancytopenia. Immunosuppressive therapy ameliorated both the gastrointestinal symptoms of CCS and pancytopenia. A common autoimmune abnormality might underlie both CCS and AA.

Cronkhite-Canada syndrome associated with colon cancer metastatic to liver: A case report

RATIONALE

Cronkhite-Canada Syndrome (CCS) is an idiopathic, nonhereditary syndrome haracterized by gastrointestinal (GI) polyposis and ectodermal changes including alopecia, onychatrophia, and pigmentation. CCS colon polyps were previously considered to be benign neoplasms. However, serrated adenoma was reported to be associated with malignant neoplasms in some cases of gastric and colorectal carcinomas, and esophageal cancers. Although malignant colon and gastric cancer have been reported in CCS, reports of distant metastasis have been rare in CCS.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 58-year-old male was referred from a nearby hospital with diarrhea and weight loss. The patient was hypoproteinemia (17.9 g/L), and multiple polyps were observed in the large intestine. He also had alopecia, onychatrophia, and dysgeusia.

DIAGNOSES

The presence of multiple polyps and associated symptoms of alopecia, onychatrophia, pigmentation, and dysgeusia informed the diagnosis of CCS.

INTERVENTIONS

He was treated with 20mg dexamethasone acetate per day for about 3 months, 10 mg for about 9 month, 5 mg for about 1 year, and then maintained on 5 mg daily. Three years after starting treatment, colonoscopy revealed colon cancer and colon adenomas. A sigmoidectomy revealed 4 well-differentiated adenocarcinomas of the ulcerating type in the sigmoid colon, and tubularadenomas throughout the rest of the large intestine. He was treated with FOLFOX6 for 6 months. At this stage liver metastasis was found. A right hepatectomy was performed confirming hepatic metastasis of colonic adenocarcinoma, which was GPC-3(-), CD34(-), CK20(+), CDX-2(+), Hep(-), CK19(+), and CK8(+).The patient received 3 courses of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy.

OUTCOMES

The patient's status has been stable for more than 2 years, and there was no tumor recurrence or metastasis occurred.

LESSONS

CCS is a rare cause of multiple polyposis most often treated with hormone therapy. Regular follow-ups are very important to ensure discovery of malignant tumors at an early stage. Studies with longer-term observations and larger sample sizes will be required to confirm these observations. However, characterization of molecular markers for the early detection of malignant transformation that might allow less invasive and more cost-effective surveillance of colon cancer is urgently sought.