Intestinal Research

Original Articles

Ulcerative colitis-associated neoplasms often harbor poor prognostic histologic components with low detection by biopsy: Ryoya Sakakibara, Shinya Sugimoto, Kaoru Takabayashi, Hiroki Kiyohara, Yusuke Wakisaka, Yuta Kaieda, Miho Kawaida, Yusuke Yoshimatsu, Tomohisa Sujino, Naoki Hosoe, Motohiko Kato, Masayuki Shimoda, Yohei Mikami, Yasushi Iwao, Takanori Kanai; Received January 5, 2024 Accepted March 5, 2024 Published online May 7, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.5217/ir.2024.00006 [Epub ahead of print]

Abstract PDF PubReader ePub: Background/Aims
Poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, signet-ring cell carcinoma, and mucinous adenocarcinoma (por/sig/muc), which are considered to be histologic subtypes with a poor prognosis, occur more frequently with colitis-associated cancer than with sporadic tumors. However, their invasiveness and manifestations are unclear. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of the por/sig/muc component in ulcerative colitis-associated neoplasms (UCANs) and its association with invasiveness and to clarify its clinicohistologic and endoscopic features.
Methods
This retrospective observational study included patients diagnosed with ulcerative colitis-associated high-grade dysplasia or adenocarcinoma from 1997 to 2022 who were divided according to the presence or absence of a por/sig/muc component.
Results
Thirty-five patients had UCAN with a por/sig/muc component and 66 had UCAN without this component. The 5-year survival rate was significantly lower in the por/sig/muc group than in the tub group (67% vs. 96%, P= 0.001), which was attributed to disease above stage III and depth to below the subserosa. Biopsy-based diagnosis before resection detected a por/sig/muc component in only 40% of lesions (14/35). Lesions with a por/sig/muc component were prevalent even in the early stages: stage 0 (4/36, 11%), I (8/20, 40%), II (7/12, 58%), III (10/14, 71%), and IV (6/8, 75%).
Conclusions
This is the first investigation that shows UCANs with a por/sig/muc component tended to be deeply invasive and were often not recognized preoperatively. Endoscopists should be aware that UCAN often has a por/sig/muc component that is not always recognized on biopsy, and the optimal treatment strategy needs to be carefully considered.

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Colorectal neoplasia

Unraveling molecular similarities between colorectal polyps and colorectal cancer: a systems biology approach: Mehran Radak, Hossein Fallahi; Intest Res 2024;22(2):199-207. Published online February 6, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.5217/ir.2023.00162

Abstract PDF Supplementary Material PubReader ePub

Background/Aims
Colorectal cancer (CRC) and colorectal polyps are intimately linked, with polyps acting as precursors to CRC. Understanding the molecular mechanisms governing their development is crucial for advancing diagnosis and treatment. Employing a systems biology approach, we investigated the molecular similarities between polyp and CRC.
Methods
We analyzed gene expression profiles, protein-protein interactions, transcription factors, and gene ontology to identify common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and unravel shared molecular pathways.
Results
Our analysis revealed 520 commonly dysregulated genes in polyps and CRC, serving as potential biomarkers and pivotal contributors to disease progression. Gene ontology analysis elucidated distinct biological processes associated with upregulated and downregulated DEGs in both conditions, highlighting common pathways, including signal transduction, cell adhesion, and positive regulation of cell proliferation. Moreover, protein-protein interaction networks shed light on subnetworks involved in rRNA processing, positive regulation of cell proliferation, mRNA splicing, and cell division. Transcription factor analysis identified major regulators and differentially expressed transcription factors in polyp and CRC. Notably, we identified common differentially expressed transcription factors, including ZNF217, NR3C1, KLF5, GATA6, and STAT3, with STAT3 and NR3C1 exhibiting increased expression.
Conclusions
This comprehensive analysis enriches our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying polyp formation and CRC development, providing potential targets for further investigation and therapeutic intervention. Our findings contribute substantively to crafting personalized strategies for refining the diagnosis and treatment of polyps and CRC.

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Stool Glycoproteomics Signatures of Pre-Cancerous Lesions and Colorectal Cancer
Janine Soares, Mariana Eiras, Dylan Ferreira, Daniela A. R. Santos, Marta Relvas-Santos, Beatriz Santos, Martina Gonçalves, Eduardo Ferreira, Renata Vieira, Luís Pedro Afonso, Lúcio Lara Santos, Mário Dinis-Ribeiro, Luís Lima, José Alexandre Ferreira
International Journal of Molecular Sciences.2024; 25(7): 3722. CrossRef

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Review

Colorectal neoplasia

Pathogenesis and biomarkers of colorectal cancer by epigenetic alteration: Chang Kyo Oh, Young-Seok Cho; Intest Res 2024;22(2):131-151. Published online February 1, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.5217/ir.2023.00115

Abstract PDF PubReader ePub: Colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks third in cancer incidence and stands as the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally. CRC tumorigenesis results from a cumulative set of genetic and epigenetic alterations, disrupting cancer-regulatory processes like cell proliferation, metabolism, angiogenesis, cell death, invasion, and metastasis. Key epigenetic modifications observed in cancers encompass abnormal DNA methylation, atypical histone modifications, and irregularities in noncoding RNAs, such as microRNAs and long noncoding RNAs. The advancement in genomic technologies has positioned these genetic and epigenetic shifts as potential clinical biomarkers for CRC patients. This review concisely covers the fundamental principles of CRC-associated epigenetic changes, and examines in detail their emerging role as biomarkers for early detection, prognosis, and treatment response prediction.

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Original Article

Colorectal neoplasia

The elderly population are more vulnerable for the management of colorectal cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic: a nationwide, population-based study: Hong Sun Kang, Seung Hoon Jeon, Su Bee Park, Jin Young Youn, Min Seob Kwak, Jae Myung Cha; Intest Res 2023;21(4):500-509. Published online August 29, 2023; DOI: https://doi.org/10.5217/ir.2023.00004

Abstract PDF Supplementary Material PubReader ePub

Background/Aims
The impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the management of colorectal cancer (CRC) may worse in elderly population, as almost all COVID-19 deaths occurred in the elderly patients. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on CRC management in the elderly population.
Methods
The numbers of patients who underwent colonoscopy, who visited hospitals or operated for CRC in 2020 and 2021 (COVID-19 era) were compared with those in 2019, according to 3 age groups (≥70 years, 50–69 years, and ≤49 years), based on the nationwide, population-based database (2019–2021) in South Korea.
Results
The annual volumes of colonoscopy and hospital visits for CRC in 2020 were more significantly declined in the old age group than in the young age group (both P<0.001). In addition, the annual volume of patients operated for CRC numerically more declined in old age group than in young age group. During the first surge of COVID-19 (March and April 2020), old age patients showed statistically significant declines for the monthly number of colonoscopies (–46.5% vs. –39.3%, P<0.001), hospital visits (–15.4% vs. –7.9%, P<0.001), CRC operations (–33.8% vs. –0.7%, P<0.05), and colonoscopic polypectomies (–41.8% vs. –38.0%, P<0.001) than young age patients, compared with those of same months in 2019.
Conclusions
Elderly population are more vulnerable for the management of CRC during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the elderly population are more carefully cared for in the management of CRC during the next pandemic.

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To overcome medical gap in screening and surveillance of colorectal cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic
Yoo Min Han
Intestinal Research.2023; 21(4): 418. CrossRef

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192 Download
1 Web of Science
1 Crossref

Review

IBD

Does caffeine have a double-edged sword role in inflammation and carcinogenesis in the colon?: Emiko Mizoguchi, Takayuki Sadanaga, Toshiyuki Okada, Takanori Minagawa, Jun Akiba; Intest Res 2023;21(3):306-317. Published online April 20, 2023; DOI: https://doi.org/10.5217/ir.2022.00118

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