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Polymerase (Pol) III dependent transcription controls the abundance of transfer RNAs, 5S ribosomal RNA and small non coding RNAs within cells, and is known to serve an essential role in the maintenance of intracellular homeostasis. However, its contribution to cancer progression has not been extensively explored. The present study demonstrated that the evolutionarily conserved MAF1 homolog, negative regulator of RNA Pol III (MAF1) may be closely associated with malignant potential and poor prognosis in colorectal cancer (CRC). Notably, immunohistochemical analysis of 146 CRC surgical specimens revealed that high expression levels of MAF1 were associated with advanced tumor depth, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis and poor prognosis. In vitro loss of function assays revealed that MAF1 knockdown suppressed chemoresistance and migration of CRC cancer cells. Furthermore, detailed analysis of an independent CRC dataset (n=615) demonstrated that the prognostic impact of MAF1 gene expression was particularly marked in microsatellite instability (MSI)-positive patients, who benefit from immune checkpoint blockade. High expression levels of MAF1 were revealed to be an independent prognostic indicator in MSI-positive CRC. These findings suggested that MAF1 may have an essential role in CRC progression, particularly in MSI positive cases.

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Aim Totally laparoscopic colectomy with intracorporeal anastomosis (IA) is associated with less surgical trauma and wound related complications compared to laparoscopy‐assisted colectomy with extracorporeal anastomosis. Delta shaped anastomosis is a widely popular IA technique. In this study, we discuss a construction technique for an overlapped delta‐shaped anastomosis using a linear stapler with a reinforced bioabsorbable material. Methods We excised the bowel at a point 10 cm from the tumour on either sides and laid them in an overlapped fashion. The entry hole was created at a point 3 cm proximal to the right stump and 7 cm distal to the left stump on the antimesenteric side. Then, a 60‐mm linear stapler with reinforced bioabsorbable material was inserted inside each lumen and fired. Finally, the common entry hole was fixed with a suture in the middle, the bowel was elevated holding the bioabsorbable material, and closed using the linear stapler in a delta‐shaped manner. Results The technique was applied in five patients with tumours in the ascending, transverse, and descending colon. The median surgery time, anastomosis construction time and postoperative stay was 329 min (range 285–682 min), 19 min (range 14–29 min), and 12 days (range 9–15 days), respectively. There were no perioperative complications and only one postoperative complication. Conclusion The overlapped delta‐shaped anastomosis technique using linear staplers with reinforced bioabsorbable material appears to be both safe and feasible.