Cyclooxygenase-2 overexpression is common in serrated and non-serrated colorectal adenoma, but uncommon in hyperplastic polyp and sessile serrated polyp/adenoma

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2, <it>PTGS2</it>) plays an important role in colorectal carcinogenesis. COX-2 overexpression in colorectal cancer is inversely associated with microsatellite instability (MSI) and the CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP). Evidence suggests that MSI/CIMP+ colorectal cancer may arise through the serrated tumorigenic pathway through various forms of serrated neoplasias. Therefore, we hypothesized that COX-2 may play a less important role in the serrated pathway.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>By immunohistochemistry, we assessed COX-2 expression in 24 hyperplastic polyps, 7 sessile serrated polyp/adenomas (SSA), 5 mixed polyps with SSA and adenoma, 27 traditional serrated adenomas, 515 non-serrated adenomas (tubular adenoma, tubulovillous adenoma and villous adenoma), 33 adenomas with intramucosal carcinomas, 96 adenocarcinomas with serration (corkscrew gland) and 111 adenocarcinomas without serration.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Strong (2+) COX-2 overexpression was more common in non-serrated adenomas (28% = 143/515) than in hyperplastic polyps (4.2% = 1/24, p = 0.008) and serrated polyps (7 SSAs and 5 mixed polyps) (0% = 0/12, p = 0.04). Furthermore, any (1+/2+) COX-2 overexpression was more frequent in non-serrated adenomas (60% = 307/515) than in hyperplastic polyps (13% = 3/24, p < 0.0001) and serrated polyps (SSAs and mixed polyps) (25% = 3/12, p = 0.03). Traditional serrated adenomas and non-serrated adenomas showed similar frequencies of COX-2 overexpression. Regardless of serration, COX-2 overexpression was frequent (~85%) in colorectal adenocarcinomas. Tumor location was not significantly correlated with COX-2 overexpression, although there was a trend towards higher frequencies of COX-2 overexpression in distal tumors (than proximal tumors) among hyperplastic polyps, SSAs, mixed polyps, traditional serrated adenomas and adenocarcinomas.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>COX-2 overexpression is infrequent in hyperplastic polyp, SSA and mixed polyp with SSA and adenoma, compared to non-serrated and serrated adenoma. COX-2 overexpression becomes more frequent as tumors progress to higher grade neoplasias. Our observations suggest that COX-2 may play a less significant role in the serrated pathway of tumorigenesis; however, COX-2 may still play a role in later stage of the serrated pathway.</p

Gastric adenocarcinoma in a patient re-infected with H. pylori after regression of MALT lymphoma with successful anti-H. pylori therapy and gastric resection: a case report

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) has been etiologically linked with primary gastric lymphoma (PGL) and gastric carcinoma (GC). There are a few reports of occurrence of both diseases in the same patient with H. pylori infection. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a patient with PGL in whom the tumor regressed after surgical resection combined with eradication of H. pylori infection. However, he developed GC on follow up; this was temporally associated with recrudescence / re-infection of H. pylori. This is perhaps first report of such occurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Possible cause and effect relationship between H. pylori infection and both PGL and GC is discussed. This case also documents a unique problem in management of PGL in tropical countries where re-infection with H. pylori is supposed to be high

LGR5 expression is regulated by EGF in early colorectal adenomas and governs EGFR inhibitor sensitivity.

BACKGROUND LGR5 serves as a co-receptor for Wnt/β-catenin signalling and marks normal intestinal stem cells; however, its role in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains controversial. LGR5 cells are known to exist outside the stem cell niche during CRC progression, and the requirement for epidermal growth factor (EGF) signalling within early adenomas remains to be fully elucidated. METHODS Epidermal growth factor and gefitinib treatments were performed in EGF-responsive LGR5 early adenoma RG/C2 cells. 2D growth assays were measured using an IncuCyte. LGR5 or MEK1/2 silencing studies were executed using siRNA and LGR5 expression was assessed by qRT-PCR and immunoblotting. Ki67 level and cell cycle status were analysed by flow cytometry. RESULTS Epidermal growth factor suppresses expression of LGR5 at both the transcript and protein level in colorectal adenoma and carcinoma cells. Suppression of LGR5 reduces the survival of EGF-treated adenoma cells by increasing detached cell yield but also inducing a proliferative state, as evidenced by elevated Ki67 level and enhanced cell cycle progression. Repression of LGR5 further increases the sensitivity of adenoma cells to EGFR inhibition. CONCLUSIONS LGR5 has an important role in the EGF-mediated survival and proliferation of early adenoma cells and could have clinical utility in predicting response of CRC patients to EGFR therapy

Avaliação imunoistoquímica da proteína ciclooxigenase-2 nas neoplasias colorretais e sua relação com fatores patológicos prognósticos Immunohistochemical evaluation of cyclooxygenase-2 in colorectal neoplasias and relationship with pathological factors in prognosis

OBJETIVOS: Avaliar a prevalência da proteína ciclooxigenase-2 (COX-2) nas neoplasias colorretais e sua relação com os parâmetros patológicos prognósticos para o câncer colorretal. MÉTODO: 65 lesões neoplásicas colorretais foram avaliadas através de imunoistoquímica para a presença de COX-2, também foram analisados fatores patológicos prognósticos e estadiamento das lesões. RESULTADOS: A COX-2 expressou-se positivamente em 27% dos adenomas tubulares, 40% dos adenomas vilosos e 70% nos carcinomas. Diferença estatisticamente significante foi obtida na expressão da COX-2 entre adenomas e carcinomas, porém não houve significância nas demais variáveis estudadas. CONCLUSÃO: A expressão da COX-2 parece variar progressivamente com a progressão da lesão neoplásica, mas não influencia os parâmetros patológicos de mau prognóstico.<br>OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prevalence of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in colorectal neoplasia and to establish the relationship with pathological factors in the prognosis of colorectal cancer. METHODS: 65 colorectal neoplastic lesions were investigated by immunohistochemistry for the expression of COX-2, along with the pathological factors in prognosis and staging of lesions. RESULTS: COX-2 was positively expressed in 27% of tubular adenomas, 40% of villous adenomas, and 70% of carcinomas. A statistically significant difference was observed among COX-2 expression in adenomas and carcinomas, but such significance was not seen among the other variables studied. CONCLUSION: COX-2 expression seems to correlate positively with the progression of neoplasias, yet with no influence on the pathological patterns of poor prognosis

Signet-ring cell carcinoma of colorectum - current perspectives and molecular biology

Purpose: \ud Colorectal signet-ring cell carcinoma (SRCC) is rare, and very little detailed information on the molecular biology of the disease is available.\ud \ud Methods: \ud The literature on the clinical, pathological and, in particular, the molecular biology of this rare entity was critically reviewed. The reviewed articles take into account a total of 1,817 cases of SRCC, but only 143 cases have molecular data available. The characteristics of two patients with colorectal SRCC were also discussed.\ud \ud Results: \ud Colorectal SRCC mostly occurs in younger patients, is larger and has different site predilection compared with conventional colorectal adenocarcinoma. It can occur as one of the synchronous cancers in the colorectum. The cancer is usually diagnosed at advanced stages because of the late manifestation of symptoms, and aggressive treatment strategy is required. Limited reports in the literature have shown that the variant of colorectal cancer demonstrated a different pattern of genetic alterations of common growth kinase-related oncogenes (K-ras, BRAF), tumour suppressor genes (p53, p16), gene methylation and cell adhesion-related genes related to the Wingless signalling pathway (E-cadherin and beta-catenin) from conventional colorectal adenocarcinoma. Colorectal SRCC also showed high expression of mucin-related genes and genes related to the gastrointestinal system. There was also a higher prevalence of microsatellite instability-high tumours and low Cox-2 expression in colorectal SRCC as opposed to conventional adenocarcinoma.\ud \ud Conclusions: \ud Colorectal SRCC has unique molecular pathological features. The unique molecular profiles in SRCC may provide molecular-based improvements to patient management in colorectal SRCC

Detection of Helicobacter pylori in gastric cancer Detecção do Helicobacter pylori no câncer gástrico

Background and Objectives &#151; Considering the high prevalence of stomach cancer in the northern region of Brazil and the recognized relationship between chronic gastric inflammation caused by Helicobacter pylori, and its carcinogenic potential, the objective we had with this study was to investigate the presence of the microorganism in macro and microscopic presentations of neoplasm in different regions of the stomach, and in non-malignant lesions concomitant to the adenocarcinoma in patients originating from the metropolitan area of Belém (State of Pará, Brazil). Methods - Examinations were made on 172 patients divided into two groups: group I, formed by 75 patients with gastric carcinoma, and group II, formed by 97 patients with mild enanthematic gastritis, considered control group. The diagnosis was obtained during endoscopic examination and the respective biopsy. Gastric neoplasms were classified macroscopically in accordance with Borrmann's classification, and microscopically in accordance with Laurén's classification. In group I, 54 patients were male and 21 female while in group II, 22 patients were male and 75 female. The average age in group I was 61.2 years (range 27 to 86 years), while in group II it was 37.5 years (range 16 to 69 years). Thin sections were prepared and stained using the hematoxylin-eosin method. In the Helicobacter pylori research, the modified Gram stain was utilized. Statistical analysis was done by utilizing the chi-squared (chi ²) test, Mann-Whitney test (U), and Fisher's exact test. Results - The results showed the detection of Helicobacter pylori were significantly greater in patients with mild enanthematic gastritis than in patients with gastric carcinoma. The presence of Helicobacter pylori in patients with gastric carcinoma and mild enanthematic gastritis was significantly greater in the antral region than in other gastric regions. Helicobacter pylori detection in patients with gastric carcinoma did not present a significant difference in relation to the macroscopic aspect of the tumor either intestinal or diffuse histological types. Conclusions - These data suggest the presence of the bacteria is predominant in the antral region and it does not show relation with the macroscopic types or histological intestinal or diffuse types of gastric carcinoma.<br>Racional e Objetivos &#151; Considerando a elevada prevalência de câncer gástrico na região norte do Brasil e a conhecida relação entre a inflamação por gastrite crônica causada pelo Helicobacter pylori e seu potencial carcinogênico, os objetivos deste estudo foram detectar a presença do microorganismo nas apresentações macro e microscópicas da neoplasia nas diferentes regiões do estômago, e nas lesões não-malignas concomitantes ao adenocarcinoma, em doentes oriundos da área metropolitana de Belém (Estado do Pará, Brasil). Método - Foram examinados 172 doentes divididos em dois grupos: grupo I, constituído por 75 enfermos com carcinoma gástrico e grupo II composto por 97 doentes com gastrite enantemática leve, considerado grupo controle. Os diagnósticos foram obtidos por meio de exame endoscópico e respectiva biopsia. As neoplasias gástricas foram classificadas macroscopicamente de acordo com a classificação de Borrmann e microscopicamente de acordo com a classificação de Laurén. No grupo I, 54 doentes eram do sexo masculino e 21 do sexo feminino. No grupo II, 22 enfermos eram masculinos e 75 femininos. A média de idade no grupo I foi de 61,2 anos (27 a 86 anos) e a do grupo II foi de 37,5 anos (16 a 69 anos). As lâminas foram preparadas e coradas pelo método da hematoxilina e eosina, utilizando-se o método de Gram modificado na pesquisa do H.pylori. A análise estatística foi realizada com os testes do chi ², teste de Mann Whitney e teste exato de Fisher. Resultados - A detecção do H.pylori foi significativamente maior nos doentes com gastrite enantemática leve do que nos enfermos com adenocarcinoma gástrico. A presença do H.pylori nos doentes com adenocarcinoma gástrico e nos enfermos com gastrite enantemática leve foi significativamente maior na região antral do que nas demais localizações gástricas. A presença do H.pylori nos doentes com adenocarcinoma gástrico não apresentou diferença significativa em relação aos tipos macroscópicos ou com os tipos microscópicos intestinal ou difuso do tumor. Conclusões - Estes dados sugerem que a presenças do H.pylori em doentes com adenocarcinoma gástrico é predominante no antro e não apresenta relação com os subtipos macroscópicos ou histológicos do carcinoma gástrico