Managing Colorectal Cancer from Ethology to Interdisciplinary Treatment: The Gains and Challenges of Modern Medicine

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common malignant tumor of the gastrointestinal tract, which has become a serious threat to human health worldwide. This article exhaustively reviews colorectal cancer's incidence and relevance, carcinogenesis molecular pathways, up-to-date treatment opportunities, prophylaxis, and screening program achievements, with attention paid to its regional variations and changes over time. This paper provides a concise overview of known CRC risk factors, including familial, hereditary, and environmental lifestyle-related risk factors. The authors take a closer look into CRC's molecular genetic pathways and the role of specific enzymes involved in carcinogenesis. Moreover, the role of the general practitioner and multidisciplinary approach in CRC treatment is summarized and highlighted based on recent recommendations and experience. This article gives a clear understanding and review of the gains and challenges of modern medicine towards CRC. The authors believe that understanding the current patterns of CRC and its revolution is imperative to the prospects of reducing its burden through cancer prevention and cancer-adjusted treatment.

A Systematic Review of the Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) Expression in Rectal Cancer Patients Treated with Preoperative Radiotherapy or Radiochemotherapy

The main objective of this systematic review is to investigate the expression level of the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in rectal cancer treated with either preoperative radiotherapy or radiochemotherapy. In addition, we have summarized the effects of preoperative treatment of rectal cancer with regards to the expression levels of COX-2. A systematic literature review was performed in The Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases on 1 January 2021 with the usage of the following search string-(cyclooxygenase-2) OR (COX-2) AND (rectal cancer) AND (preoperative radiochemotherapy) OR (preoperative radiotherapy). Among the 176 included in the analysis, only 13 studies were included for data extraction with a total number of 2095 patients. The results of the analysis are based on the articles concerning the expression of COX-2 in rectal cancer among patients treated with preoperative radiotherapy or radiochemotherapy. A COX-2 expression is an early event involved in rectal cancer development. In cases of negative COX-2 expression, radiotherapy and radiochemotherapy might contribute to the reduction of a local recurrence. Therefore, COX-2 may be considered as a biologic factor while selecting patients for more effective, less time-consuming and less expensive preoperative treatment. However, the utility of the administration of COX-2 inhibitors to patients with COX-2 overexpression, in an attempt to improve the patients' response rate to the neoadjuvant treatment, needs an assessment in further clinical trials.

Awareness of gastrointestinal tract malignancies among the population of Lublin province (Eastern Poland) - A cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION

Currently, malignancies are the most severe medical problems worldwide. Numerous, already known risk factors in carcinogenesis could be potentially avoided. Some cancer risk factors have been recognized and have become the targets of primary prophylaxis.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to ascertain the state of knowledge about risk factors, primary prevention and early detection of malignancies of gastrointestinal tract (GIT) in the urban and rural population of the Lublin province in Eastern Poland.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study was cross-sectional. The originally designed questionnaire was applied to the group of 1,352 patients, representatives of both the rural and urban environments of the Lublin province during random appointments with their general practitioner (GP).

RESULTS

The study showed low awareness of the issues connected with GIT malignancies within the studied group. The problem was particulary apparent in the rural population.

CONCLUSIONS

In order to raise general awareness of cancer, different means should be applied in urban and rural populations. GPs and the media were found to have the leading rols in the promotion of primary prevention.

Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and mucin 1 in colorectal cancer

In colorectal cancer (CRC), pathological factors that correlate with negative prognosis include, among others, overexpression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and abundant expression of mucin 1 (MUC1). COX-2 overexpression may therefore be associated with MUC1 overexpression. The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible correlation between COX-2 and MUC1 expression and to assess the correlation between their individual expression and the clinicopathological features of patients, paying particular attention to survival. The following data was collected from the 170 patients with CRC included in the present study: Age, sex, tumour localization, disease stage and survival. Tumour samples were immunostained with antibodies against COX-2 and MUC1. Protein expression was scored, relative to reference staining, and correlated with the clinicopathological data of patients. The results revealed no correlation between the expressions of COX-2 and MUC1, or with any of the studied clinicopathological variables. In addition, the expression of the two proteins were not associated. Neither of the proteins demonstrated prognostic value for survival. The present study did not confirm a direct relationship between the expressions of COX-2 and MUC1, or between the expression of either protein and the clinicopathological features of patients, including survival.

Awareness of gastrointestinal tract malignancies among the population of Lublin province (Eastern Poland) - A cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION

Currently, malignancies are the most severe medical problems worldwide. Numerous, already known risk factors in carcinogenesis could be potentially avoided. Some cancer risk factors have been recognized and have become the targets of primary prophylaxis.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to ascertain the state of knowledge about risk factors, primary prevention and early detection of malignancies of gastrointestinal tract (GIT) in the urban and rural population of the Lublin province in Eastern Poland.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study was cross-sectional. The originally designed questionnaire was applied to the group of 1,352 patients, representatives of both the rural and urban environments of the Lublin province during random appointments with their general practitioner (GP).

RESULTS

The study showed low awareness of the issues connected with GIT malignancies within the studied group. The problem was particulary apparent in the rural population.

CONCLUSIONS

In order to raise general awareness of cancer, different means should be applied in urban and rural populations. GPs and the media were found to have the leading rols in the promotion of primary prevention.

Awareness of hepatic arterial variants is required in surgical oncology decision making strategy: Case report and review of literature

Surgery for the treatment of pancreatic cancer remains the gold standard, however, the identification of the vascular supply of the pancreas and the nearby organs remains a crucial difficulties in a curative resection. During pancreatic head resection for carcinoma dissection of regional arterial vasculature is mandatory. Normal coeliac and hepatic arterial anatomy occurs in ~50–70% of patients and multiple variations have been described. Knowledge of multiple arterial anomalies is essential in hepato-pancreatico-billary surgery to avoid unnecessary complications. The present study presents coeliac trunk and common hepatic artery (CHA) anomalies along with their clinical importance, as reviewed according to the available literature. Patients diagnosed with cancer of the pancreatic head were hospitalized for staging and planning of radical surgical therapy. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a large tumour mass in the head of the pancreas and CHA, which branched directly from the superior mesenteric artery. A three-dimensional CT reconstruction revealed a demonstrative vascular anomaly, which was confirmed during an operation. Despite the anomalous origin of the CHA, pylorus preserving pancreatoduodenectomy and regional lymph node dissection without intraoperative complications was performed in each case. The patient's postoperative clinical course was uneventful and adjuvant chemotherapy could be administered without delay. In the multidisciplinary treatment of pancreatic carcinoma the surgeon and radiologist must be aware of the aberrant anatomy in order to avoid potential complications. As CT scans used for the preoperative staging are of diagnostic value for vascular anomaly, it is required for appropriate surgical decision making.