The cutoff values reported by Martin et al. were optimal to predict survival in patients with advanced gastric cancer.

Background The global pandemic of COVID-19 has changed cancer treatment environments. In Japan, cancer screenings were halted and the numbers of endoscopies and surgeries were restricted in some hospitals based on the state of emergency declared. Herein, we investigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the characteristics of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients in facilities that are on the frontline of both COVID-19 and cancer treatments. Patients and methods We retrospectively analyzed the cases of all of the CRC patients (n = 123) who underwent surgery at our regional cancer treatment center and tertiary emergency hospital in Japan during a 120-day period ranging from before to after the state of emergency declaration. CRC patients during the corresponding period in the previous year were also examined. Results Although the number of CRC patients did not show a significant change related to the pandemic, the incidence of obstructive CRCs significantly increased after the pandemic's start. The numbers of outpatients and colonoscopies both decreased, which could have resulted in the decrease of CRC patients detected by cancer screening during the pandemic. The numbers of symptomatic CRC patients and emergency admissions both increased significantly during the pandemic. Conclusion Our findings indicate the possibility that the discovery of CRCs in patients could be delayed due to the halt in screenings caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in the increase of obstructive CRCs. These results highlight the importance of cancer screening and suggest that the screening system for cancers should be reorganized before future pandemics.

Clear cell sarcoma (CCS) is a rare soft tissue sarcoma caused by the EWS/ATF1 fusion gene. Here, we established induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from EWS/ATF1 -controllable murine CCS cells harboring sarcoma-associated genetic abnormalities. Sarcoma-iPSC mice develop secondary sarcomas immediately after EWS/ATF1 induction, but only in soft tissue. EWS/ATF1 expression induces oncogene-induced senescence in most cell types in sarcoma-iPSC mice but prevents it in sarcoma cells. We identify Tppp3 -expressing cells in peripheral nerves as a cell-of-origin for these sarcomas. We show cell type-specific recruitment of EWS/ATF1 to enhancer regions in CCS cells. Finally, epigenetic silencing at these enhancers induces senescence and inhibits CCS cell growth through altered EWS/ATF1 binding. Together, we propose that distinct responses to premature senescence are the basis for the cell type-specificity of cancer development.

The forced reduction of global DNA methylation suppresses tumor development in several cancer models in vivo. Nevertheless, the mechanisms underlying these suppressive effects remain unclear. In this report, we describe our findings showing that a genome-wide reduction in the DNA methylation levels induces cellular differentiation in association with decreased cell proliferation in Apc (Min/+) mouse colon tumor cells in vivo. Colon tumor-specific DNA methylation at Cdx1 is reduced in the DNA-hypomethylated tumors accompanied by Cdx1 derepression and an increased expression of intestinal differentiation-related genes. Furthermore, a histological analysis revealed that Cdx1 derepression in the DNA-hypomethylated tumors is correlated with the differentiation of colon tumor cells. Similarly, the treatment of human colon cancer cell lines with a hypomethylating agent induces differentiation-related genes, including CDX1. We herein propose that DNA demethylation exerts a tumor suppressive effect in the colon by inducing tumor cell differentiation.

BackgroundArteriovenous malformations (AVM) developed in the small intestine are rare, and it is sometimes difficult to identify and treat bleeding from small intestinal AVMs endoscopically because of their localization. We present a case of a jejunal AVM successfully treated with the combination of metallic coil embolization and laparoscopic surgery.Case presentationA 50-year-old woman with a history of repetitive gastrointestinal bleeding was admitted to the hospital. Selective angiography revealed a jejunal AVM that was treated with metallic coil embolization. However, the lesion rebled 3 months later, and it was embolized again with metallic coils. Considering the risk of rebleeding, we performed laparoscopic resection of the jejunal AVM. Under laparoscopy alone, it was impossible to detect the lesion of the AVM. We used X-ray fluoroscopy intraoperatively to detect the metallic coils at the AVM. Partial resection of the jejunum with the AVM was performed followed by functional end-to-end anastomosis. The patient was discharged from the hospital without any complications after the surgery.ConclusionsThe combination of metallic coil embolization by angiography and laparoscopic surgery with X-ray fluoroscopy can be effective for patients with repetitive bleeding from jejunal AVM.