Kiichi Sugimoto

Glasgow Prognostic Score as a Prognostic Factor in Patients Undergoing Curative Surgery for Colorectal Cancer

Background/Aims: Systemic inflammatory responses have been reported to be independent predictors of cancer-specific survival in colorectal cancer. The Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS), which is an inflammation-based prognostic factor, is defined by the presence of elevated C-reactive protein and hypoalbuminemia. The purpose of this study was to estimate whether GPS can be a prognostic factor in patients undergoing curative surgery for colorectal cancers. Methods: We studied 166 patients with stage II (TNM classification) and 200 patients with stage III who had undergone curative surgery for colorectal cancer between 1999 and 2004. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the relationship between clinicopathological factors and prognosis. Results: Among patients with stage II, location and GPS were independent factors on multivariate analysis. In particular, GPS was revealed to be the strongest factor in cancer-specific survival (HR: 7.43, 95% confidence interval, CI: 2.86–19.30, p < 0.0001). On the other hand, among patients with stage III, the number of metastatic lymph nodes was the only independent factor on multivariate analysis (HR: 1.14, 95% CI: 1.07–1.20, p < 0.0001). GPS was not a prognostic factor in cancer-specific survival in stage III. Conclusion: Among patients with stage II, GPS was predictive of cancer-specific survival.

Treatment of Internal Hemorrhoids by Endoscopic Sclerotherapy with Aluminum Potassium Sulfate and Tannic Acid

Objective. A new sclerosing agent for hemorrhoids, aluminum potassium sulfate and tannic acid (ALTA), is attracting attention as a curative treatment for internal hemorrhoids without resection. The outcome and safety of ALTA sclerotherapy using an endoscope were investigated in the present study. Materials and Methods. Subjects comprised 83 internal hemorrhoid patients (61 males and 22 females). An endoscope was inserted and retroflexed in the rectum, and a 1st-step injection was applied to the upper parts of the hemorrhoids. The retroflexed scope was returned to the normal position, and 2nd–4th-step injections were applied to the middle and lower parts of the hemorrhoids under direct vision. The effects of endoscopic ALTA sclerotherapy were determined by evaluating the condition of the hemorrhoids using an anoscope and interviewing the patient 28 days after the treatment. Results. A cure, improvement, and failure were observed in 54 (65.1%), 27 (32.5%), and 2 (2.4%) patients, respectively, treated with ALTA. Complications developed in 4 patients (mild fever in 3 and hematuria in 1). Recurrence occurred in 9.6%. Conclusions. The results of the present study suggest that endoscopic ALTA has the potential to become a useful and minimally invasive approach for ALTA sclerotherapy.

Clinical pathway to discharge 3 days after colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection

Colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a useful treatment method; however, no index has been established for time for patient to start food ingestion or be discharged after ESD. We investigated the potential of a clinical pathway in which patients started food ingestion on day 2 after ESD and were discharged on day 3.

A case of clear cell adenocarcinoma arising from endometriosis of the rectum treated by laparoscopic surgery.

Highlights • Clear cell adenocarcinoma arising from endometriosis is very rare.• Preoperative diagnosis of the malignant transformation in endometriosis is very difficult.• The patient was undergone low anterior resection under the diagnosis of rectal carcinoma.• Sampsons criteria are useful for diagnosis of the malignant transformation in endometriosis.• The prognosis of malignant transformation in endometriosis is poor.

The Validity of Predicting Prognosis by the Lymph Node Ratio in Node-Positive Colon Cancer

Background/Aims: Because the TNM system disregards the number of lymph nodes dissected and inter-individual differences exist in the number of regional lymph nodes, the lymph node ratio (LNR), which is estimated by dividing the number of metastatic lymph nodes by the number of dissected lymph nodes, has been proposed as a prognostic factor in recent years. The purpose of the present study is to examine the validity of predicting prognosis using the LNR in node-positive colon cancer. Methods: Three hundred and eleven patients with lymph node metastases who underwent curative surgery for colon cancer at our department between 1992 and 2005 were enrolled. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the relationship between clinicopathological factors and prognosis. Results: Among the patients with ≥12 dissected lymph nodes, differentiation, invasion depth and TNM N category were found to be significant independent prognostic factors. On the other hand, among the patients with ≤11 dissected lymph nodes, differentiation and the LNR were found to be significant independent prognostic factors. Conclusion: Among the patients with ≤11 dissected lymph nodes, LNR was a significant independent prognostic factor.

Unroofing technique for endoscopic resection of a large colonic lipoma.

A 77-year-old man presented with repeated episodes of melena. He had a medical history of hypertension, atrial fibrillation and cardiogenic brain infarction and took medications, i.e. an antiplatelet agent. Laboratory data revealed iron deficiency anemia. Colonoscopy revealed a yellowish smooth submucosal tumor, 50 mm in diameter, on the Bauhin valve. The lesion was soft and compressible. The overlying mucosa was erosive. CT scan showed a uniform mass with very low density in the ascending colon, corresponding to the above-detected lesion. The clinical diagnosis of colonic lipoma was established. Using a 25 mm electrocautery snare (Olympus, Tokyo, Japan), we transected the upper portion of the mass to unroof the lesion. The mucosa layer was thick and hard. Fat tissue was observed extruding from the cut surface, consistent with the diagnostic hypothesis. After dissecting the overlying mucosa on the anal side by means of an IT knife (Olympus) in order to completely extrude the mass, the fat tissue was further exposed. It took about 26 min to perform the whole procedure. There were no procedure-related complications. Macroscopically, the resected lesion was a yellow solid tumor, 1.6 × 1.5 × 0.7 cm in diameter. Histopathologic examination of the excised specimen confirmed the diagnosis of a lipoma. The clinical course was uneventful. A follow-up endoscopy 1 month later showed a scarred mucosa at the resection site. Similarly, a follow-up CT scan 2 months later revealed no evidence of residual lipoma. The unroofing technique is safe, easy and suitable for the treatment of large lipomas.

Impact of chromosome 17q deletion in the primary lesion of colorectal cancer on liver metastasis

Colorectal cancer is a prevalent malignancy worldwide, and investigations are required to elucidate the underlying carcinogenic mechanisms. Amongst these mechanisms, de novo carcinogenesis and the adenoma to carcinoma sequence, are the most understood. Metastasis of colorectal cancer to the liver often results in fatality, therefore, it is important for any associated risk factors to be identified. Regarding the treatment of the disease, it is important to manage not only the primary colorectal tumor, but also the liver metastases. Previously, through gene variation analysis, chromosomal loss has been indicated to serve an important role in liver metastasis. Such analysis may aid in the prediction of liver metastasis risk, alongside individual responses to treatment, thus improving the management of colorectal cancer. In the present study, we aimed to clarify a cause of the liver metastasis of colorectal cancer using comparative genomic hybridization analysis. A total of 116 frozen samples were analyzed from patients with advanced colorectal cancer that underwent surgery from 2004 to 2011. The present study analyzed mutations within tumor suppressor genes non-metastatic gene 23 (NM23), deleted in colorectal carcinoma (DCC) and deleted in pancreatic carcinoma, locus 4 (DPC4), which are located on chromosomes 17 and 18 and have all been reported to affect liver metastasis of colorectal cancer. The association between chromosomal abnormalities (duplication and deletion) and liver metastasis of colorectal cancer was evaluated using comparative genomic hybridization. Cluster analysis indicated that the group of patients lacking the long arm of chromosome 17 demonstrated the highest rate of liver metastasis. No significant association was observed between the frequency of liver metastases for synchronous and heterochronous colorectal cancer cases and gene variation (P=0.206). However, when these liver metastasis cases were divided into the synchronous and heterochronous types, the ratio of each was significantly different between gene variation groups, classified by the existence of the 17q deletion (P=0.023). These results indicate that the deletion of 17q may act as a predictive marker of liver metastasis in postoperative states.

Laparoscopic intersphincteric resection using needlescopic instruments

Intersphincteric resection (ISR) is a procedure designed to preserve anal function in cases with very low rectal cancer. We report our clinical experience with laparoscopic ISR (Lap ISR) performed using needlescopic instruments. First, a camera port is created at the umbilicus. Two 5-mm ports are then inserted at the right upper and lower quadrants. Two needlescopic forceps (Endo-Relief™ Hope Denshi Co., Chiba, Japan) are inserted at the left upper and lower quadrants. We then perform the following procedures; ligation of the inferior mesenteric artery and vein, total mesorectal excision and dissection of the intersphincteric space. After the transanal intersphincteric dissection, the specimen is extracted through the anus and a hand —sewn coloanal anastomosis is performed. The covering ileostomy is finally created at the right upper port. We performed Lap ISR using needlescopic forceps in two patients with very low rectal cancer. In both cases, we were able to perform this procedure without insertion of an additional port or to change the needlescopic forceps to conventional 5-mm forceps. Lap ISR with needlescopic instruments is a feasible procedure for minimally invasive surgery.

Successful Retrieval of a Retained Capsule Endoscope with Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery

Capsule endoscopy (CE) is commonly used for examining and diagnosing gastrointestinal disease, especially small bowel disease. Capsule retention is a well-known and significant complication of CE and requires surgical or endoscopic removal. Most reports described the retrieval of retained CE via laparotomy. We report a case of successful retrieval of the capsule using single incision laparoscopic surgery.

Investigation of free cancer cells in peripheral blood using CEA mRNA expression in perioperative colorectal cancer patients

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of laparoscopic surgery (Lap) on circulating free tumor cells in colorectal cancer patients. In this study, we selected carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) mRNA expression in peripheral blood as the marker of the circulating tumor cells and compared this marker between Lap and open colectomy (OC), to investigate differences due to surgical approach. A total of 50 patients underwent curative surgery for solitary colorectal cancer at our department, between June, 2008 and February, 2011. The patients were divided into OC and Lap groups (25 patients each). Total RNA was extracted subsequent to peripheral blood collection prior to surgery, immediately following surgery and 1, 3 and 7 days after surgery. CEA mRNA was detected with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and the association between peripheral blood CEA mRNA-positive rate, surgical findings and clinicopathological characteristics was investigated. The peripheral blood CEA mRNA-positive rate was significantly increased immediately after surgery, compared to the preoperative rate (P=0.001), but decreased over time. No significant differences were observed at any blood-sampling time point after postoperative day 1. The positive rate was significantly increased in the OC group immediately after surgery, compared to the preoperative rate (P=0.004). However, there were no significant differences between the rates prior to and immediately after surgery in the Lap group. The patients were then divided into those who were peripheral blood CEA mRNA-positive and -negative after surgery (postoperative positive and negative groups, respectively) and the clinicopathological characteristics were compared. Significant differences were identified between the groups in lower rectal cancer patients and patients with a large intraoperative blood loss (P=0.001 and P=0.01, respectively). In conclusion, in colorectal cancer patients, there were no significant differences in the perioperative peripheral blood CEA mRNA-positive rate or its short-term changes between patients undergoing OC and Lap surgery. It was suggested that Lap is equivalent to OC with regard to free cancer cells.