Copper, zinc, magnesium, calcium and iron were measured in serum and lung tissue – tumor mass and histologically nonneoplastic tissue – from lung cancer patients and compared with serum concentrations in healthy subjects and control lung tissue obtained from patients with nonmalignant lung disease. Lung cancer patients showed a significant increase in serum Cu and Cu/Zn ratio levels and decrease in serum Zn and Fe concentrations. These findings were correlated with TNM stage of the disease, but not with histologic type of tumor. Malignant lung tissue showed a higher level of Cu, Ca, Mg, and Cu/Zn ratio and lower Zn level than that found in control samples, as well as an increase in Cu, Mg and Cu/Zn ratio concentrations with regard to histologically nonneoplastic tissue samples from the same patient. Tissue concentration of trace metals was not significantly influenced either by histologic type of tumor or clinical TNM stage. Significant correlation coefficients between serum and tissue trace metal levels were not found.

Colorectal cancer patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery within a multimodal rehabilitation protocol experienced the shortest HS and the lowest morbidity.

Background: As the enzyme telomerase extends the life of the cell through its ability to lengthen telomeres, its activity in different types of tumor has been evaluated as a possible factor involved in tumorigenesis. The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic significance of telomerase activity in patients with colorectal carcinoma. Patients and Methods: Telomerase activity was determined in 103 patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer between 2001 and 2003. Telomerase activity was determined by an enzyme-linked immunoassay based on the amplification of telomeric repeat sequences (TRAP assay). Results: 90% of our study population showed telomerase activity. Telomerase activity was related to tumor stage and site: a lower proportion of patients with stage A tumors showed telomerase activity compared to more advanced stages; and more patients with colon than with rectal carcinomas were telomerase positive. Multivariate analysis revealed that by adjusting for tumor stage, telomerase activity could be used to predict the risk of death or recurrence (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Activation of telomerase seems to be a frequent event related to the stage of the tumor in colorectal tumorigenesis. Our findings suggest that telomerase activity can predict a greater risk of death or recurrence, irrespective of the more conventional prognostic factors.

Serum CA 125 levels were evaluated in 130 healthy subjects and 133 patients with untreated pulmonary lesions. These were 33 patients with benign pulmonary conditions and 100 with lung cancer. The mean concentration of CA 125 was higher in patients with lung cancer (37 +/- 81 U/ml) than in those with nonmalignant disease (4.2 +/- 5.7 U/ml) (P less than 0.01). In the healthy control group CA 125 concentrations were significantly lower (0.63 +/- 1.5 U/ml) (P less than 0.001). In patients with lung cancer the concentration of this tumor marker was related to the tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage. At a cut-off value of 15 U/ml, CA 125 had a sensitivity of 44%, specificity of 100%, positive predictive value of 100%, and negative predictive value of 65% with respect to healthy subjects; in patients with benign pulmonary conditions, these values were 44%, 94%, 94%, and 31%, respectively. At this cut-off value, a correlation between the respectability prognosis and the likelihood of survival 24 months posttreatment was observed. These findings suggest that CA 125 can be used as an adjunctive test in the management of patients with lung cancer patients.

Resting anal canal pressure was measured in 15 patients with anal fissure before and after lateral internal sphincterotomy. This pressure was found to be significantly higher in these subjects (mean 95 +/- 23.08 mm HG) than in the control group (mean 66.10 +/- 14.28 mm Hg) before surgery (P less than 0.005). After surgery, a normal anal canal pressure was produced. The authors maintain that anal canal spasm is responsible for chronicity of anal fissures.