Screening of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients for lynch syndrome (LS) emphasizes the need for public insurance coverage of genetic testing: Results of a national program by the Hellenic Society of Medical Oncology (HeSMO)

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Background: Lynch Syndrome is associated with germline mutations in Mismatch Repair (MMR) genes ( MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PMS2). CRC patients whose tumors exhibit high-level microsatellite instability (MSI-H) have an increased probability of LS. Although the diagnosis of LS has important implications for the patient and the family, germline genetic testing is not reimbursed by the Hellenic Public State Healthcare Services. To address this need HeSMO conducted a national program to screen and diagnose CRC patients with LS. Methods: All patients with CRC were eligible. Assessment for LS involved initially screening tumor tissue for the presence of MMR deficiency, either via molecular MSI testing or via immunohistochemistry (IHC) to detect the absence of one or more MMR proteins. Patients with an MMR-deficient tumor in the absence of a somatic cause (e.g. BRAF mutation or MLH1 promoter hypermethylation) underwent genetic counseling and germline testing to confirm a LS diagnosis. Results: From June 2017 to December 2018, 104 patients diagnosed with CRC were enrolled and tested. Median age of diagnosis was 58,5 years (range 32 - 89) and male-to-female ratio was 1.6:1. Fifty patients (48%) had tumors that exhibited the MSI-H phenotype. From the MSI-H tumors, 41 (82%) did not harbor the BRAF V600E mutation and 33 of them (80.5%) did not harbor an MLH1 promoter hypermethylation. Therefore, 33 patients were invited for genetic counseling and testing. Fifteen patients (45.45%) were diagnosed with LS: 6 ( 40 %) had a mutation in MLH1 (one of which had also a mutation in PMS2 gene), 4 (26.6%) in MSH6, 4 (26.6%) in MSH2 and 1 (6.6%) in PMS2. Conclusions: In our series, 30% of the CRC patients with MSI-H tumors were tested positive for LS. These results confirm the value of a universal screening program of CRC patients for LS. Hopefully, these results will convince the Hellenic Public State Healthcare Services to reimburse screening and germline genetic testing of CRC patients for LS.

Surgical site infection after gastrointestinal surgery in high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries: a prospective, international, multicentre cohort study

BACKGROUND

Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common infections associated with health care, but its importance as a global health priority is not fully understood. We quantified the burden of SSI after gastrointestinal surgery in countries in all parts of the world.

METHODS

This international, prospective, multicentre cohort study included consecutive patients undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection within 2-week time periods at any health-care facility in any country. Countries with participating centres were stratified into high-income, middle-income, and low-income groups according to the UN's Human Development Index (HDI). Data variables from the GlobalSurg 1 study and other studies that have been found to affect the likelihood of SSI were entered into risk adjustment models. The primary outcome measure was the 30-day SSI incidence (defined by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for superficial and deep incisional SSI). Relationships with explanatory variables were examined using Bayesian multilevel logistic regression models. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02662231.

FINDINGS

Between Jan 4, 2016, and July 31, 2016, 13 265 records were submitted for analysis. 12 539 patients from 343 hospitals in 66 countries were included. 7339 (58·5%) patient were from high-HDI countries (193 hospitals in 30 countries), 3918 (31·2%) patients were from middle-HDI countries (82 hospitals in 18 countries), and 1282 (10·2%) patients were from low-HDI countries (68 hospitals in 18 countries). In total, 1538 (12·3%) patients had SSI within 30 days of surgery. The incidence of SSI varied between countries with high (691 [9·4%] of 7339 patients), middle (549 [14·0%] of 3918 patients), and low (298 [23·2%] of 1282) HDI (p<0·001). The highest SSI incidence in each HDI group was after dirty surgery (102 [17·8%] of 574 patients in high-HDI countries; 74 [31·4%] of 236 patients in middle-HDI countries; 72 [39·8%] of 181 patients in low-HDI countries). Following risk factor adjustment, patients in low-HDI countries were at greatest risk of SSI (adjusted odds ratio 1·60, 95% credible interval 1·05-2·37; p=0·030). 132 (21·6%) of 610 patients with an SSI and a microbiology culture result had an infection that was resistant to the prophylactic antibiotic used. Resistant infections were detected in 49 (16·6%) of 295 patients in high-HDI countries, in 37 (19·8%) of 187 patients in middle-HDI countries, and in 46 (35·9%) of 128 patients in low-HDI countries (p<0·001).

INTERPRETATION

Countries with a low HDI carry a disproportionately greater burden of SSI than countries with a middle or high HDI and might have higher rates of antibiotic resistance. In view of WHO recommendations on SSI prevention that highlight the absence of high-quality interventional research, urgent, pragmatic, randomised trials based in LMICs are needed to assess measures aiming to reduce this preventable complication.

FUNDING

DFID-MRC-Wellcome Trust Joint Global Health Trial Development Grant, National Institute of Health Research Global Health Research Unit Grant.

Non-coding RNAs and EZH2 interactions in cancer: long and short tales from the transcriptome

A large amount of data indicates that non-coding RNAs represent more than the "dark matter" of the genome. Both microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs are involved in several fundamental biologic processes, and their deregulation may lead in oncogenesis. Interacting with the Polycomb-repressive complex 2 subunit EZH2, they could affect the expression of protein-coding genes and form feedback networks and autoregulatory loops. They can also form networks with upstream and downstream important factors, in which EZH2 represent the stabilizing factor of the pathway. As such non-coding RNAs affect the epigenetic modifications leading to malignant transformation.

Cancer and pregnancy: a comprehensive review

BACKGROUND

Pregnancy complicated by cancer is relatively rare but, as women in western societies tend to delay childbearing to the third and fourth decade of life, this phenomenon is going to be encountered more often in the future.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Review of the literature and description of the different diagnostic and therapeutic approaches which are required to diagnose and treat pregnant mothers with cancer.

RESULTS

As in non-pregnant patients, every effort should be made to provide the maximal benefit and best prognosis to the pregnant patient. In most cases, in order to avoid any harm to the fetus, different diagnostic approach should be incorporated and treatment should be tailored to each pregnant woman. Cooperation of multidisciplinary teams, incorporating medical and radiation oncologists, surgeons, obstetricians, neonatologists and experienced nursing staff, is required to provide optimal care for the patient. The benefits from use of surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy as well as the mother's wishes and beliefs need to be factored into recommendations and treatment planning.

CONCLUSIONS

With the experience gained, the developments in clinical and radiation oncology and the cooperation of multidisciplinary teams, treatment of cancer during pregnancy with normal fetal outcome is feasible.

High levels of topoisomerase IIalpha protein expression in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma are associated with high proliferation, germinal center immunophenotype, and response to treatment

Gene copy number and protein expression of topoisomerase IIalpha were correlated to benefit from anthracyclines in various tumors. A retrospective series of 69 patients with DLBCL managed with CHOP chemotherapy were studied for immunohistochemical TopoIIalpha expression and numerical gene abnormalities by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). The results were analyzed in relation to the expression of cell cycle proteins (Ki67, p53, HDM2, p21, p14, pRb, p16, and cyclins A, B1, D1, D2, D3, and E) and BCL6/CD10/MUM1/CD138 B-cell differentiation immunophenotype and outcome. High levels of TopoIIalpha protein were found in 91% of DLBCL cases. No evidence of TopoIIalpha gene amplification or deletion was found. The TopoIIalpha expression showed significant positive correlations with the proliferation index Ki67 (p = 0.002), cell cycle proteins pRb and cyclin D2 (p = 0.018 and p = 0.028, respectively), and the germinal center proteins bcl6 and CD10 (p = 0.010 and p < 0.0001, respectively). TopoIIalpha expression was significantly higher in germinal center B-cell like (GCB) DLBCL than in non-germinal center B-cell like (non-GCB) DLBCL (p = 0.048). TopoIIalpha protein was significantly associated with response to chemotherapy (chi(2), p = 0.024), but not with relapse-free or overall survival (p = 0.5). On multivariate analysis, only stage of disease retained independent prognostic significance (HR 0.33 for early stage, p = 0.008). Although TopoIIa gene copy number abnormalities were not found in DLBCL, high levels of protein expression are associated with GCB-cell differentiation immunophenotype, high proliferation, and response to treatment.

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): report of a case and review of the literature

The clinical manifestation of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) as paraneoplastic phenomenon is common in patients with lung cancer (especially in those with non small cell lung cancer).Surprisingly, only few data have been published on the prevalence of this phenomenon. Herein we present the case of a patient with metastatic giant-cell carcinoma of the lung complicated by DIC leading the patient to death. We also review the literature regarding the incidence, the pathogenesis and the therapy of DIC in NSCLC. As more effective therapy for lung cancer becomes available and patients live longer, DIC can be expected to be encountered more frequently. Because of this fact clinicians should be alert to the occurrence of such clotting disorders and should be familiar with their diagnosis and management.

Susceptibility to autoxidation of lipids of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH)-like red cells

The susceptibility to autoxidation of red cell lipids was studied before and after transformation of normal red cells to PNH-like erythrocytes. The transformation was effected by treatment of the red cells with the sulfydryl compounds D-penicillamine (DP) and N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC). The autoxidation was induced by incubating the cells with H2O2 and was estimated by measuring the generated malonyl dialdehyde. The susceptibility to autoxidation was significantly higher in DP-treated cells, while the opposite was true for NAC-treated cells. However, both DP- and NAC-treated cells showed a similar sensitivity to lysis by acid serum and about the same degree of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity decrease, thus indicating that the susceptibility to autoxidation of lipids is not involved in the determination of complement sensitivity or in the AChE activity decrease of the sulfydryl-treated cells. Finally, since, as evidenced from most of the reported cases in the literature, increased susceptibility to autoxidation is a feature of PNH cells, it seems reasonable to suggest that DP-treated cells should be used in preference to NAC-treated cells as a laboratory substitute for PNH cells.