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Laparoscopic colorectal surgery for cancer in developing countries could be safe and feasible. Safe reuse of disposable expensive parts of some laparoscopic instruments could help in propagation of this technique in developing countries.

Background The distress thermometer (DT) is an effective tool for identifying distress among cancer patients worldwide. However, DT has not been studied in Egyptian patients. We aimed to study the prevalence of distress among Egyptian patients with different types of cancers using DT. Methods A total of 550 patients with newly diagnosed hematological and solid cancers who were followed up at 3 Oncology Centers in Egypt were enrolled. They completed a sociodemographic and clinical status questionnaire, the DT and the Problem List (PL) scale. Results At a DT cut-off score of ≥4, 46% of patients had significant distress, which was related to the tumor site and stage. The most frequent problems reported were treatment decision (64.4%), worry (47%), and fears (44.5%). In univariate logistic regression analysis, participants who had significant distress described 23 out of 36 problems in the practical, family, emotional, and physical areas. After adjustment to sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, multivariable analysis confirmed that insurance, depression, fear, sadness, worry, loss of interest in usual activity, and sleep were independent factors associated with significant distress in cancer patients. Conclusions Almost half of Egyptian patients newly diagnosed with cancer reported significant distress. Those who had significant distress described extra problems in the practical, family, emotional, and physical areas. We recommend the routine use of DT for screening Egyptian patients with cancer, as well as the involvement of the psycho-oncology and social services, at the time of their initial diagnosis.

Background and Aim. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) contribute to the process of malignant transformation and tumor progression through immuno- and nonimmunosuppressive mechanisms. The current study is aimed at providing the predictive and prognostic role of Mo-MDSCs in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in relation to different hematologic indices. Methods. We recruited 40 cases of advanced NSCLC, stages III and IV, aged > 18 – < 70 years old, and eligible to receive chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy, along with 20 healthy controls of comparable age and sex; after diagnosis and staging of patients, blood samples were collected for flow cytometric detection of Mo-MDSCs. Results. Significant accumulation of Mo-MDSCs in patients compared to their controls ( p < 0.0001 ). Furthermore, these cells accumulated significantly in stage IV compared to stage III ( p = 0.006 ) and correlated negatively with overall survival ( r = − 0.471 , p = 0.002 ), lymphocyte to monocyte ratio ( r = − 0.446 , p = 0.004 ), and mean platelet volume to platelet count ratio (MPV/PC) ( r = − 0.464 , p = 0.003 ), patients with Mo ‐ MDSCs < 13 % had significantly better survival than those with Mo ‐ MDSCs ≥ 13 % ( p = 0.041 ). Conclusion. Mo-MDSCs represent one of the key mechanisms in the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) to play major roles not only in the carcinogenesis of lung cancer but also in disease progression and prognosis and, in addition, predict the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors; our results provided some support to target Mo-MDSCs and needed to be augmented by further studies.

Background and Objectives. The use of complete mesocolic excision (CME) technique seems to be gaining popularity in the management of cancer colon. We aim to compare the laparoscopic approach for CME with the open approach in right colon cancer treatment with regard to the feasibility, safety, and perioperative and oncologic outcomes. Patients and Methods. A prospective study which included all patients that underwent radical right hemicolectomy for pathologic confirmed stage II or stage III tumor with CME at South Egypt Cancer Institute, Assiut University, from January 2012 to December 2019. Patients were grouped according to the surgical approach into the laparoscopic colectomy (LCME) group (n = 48) or open colectomy (OCME) group (n = 48). Results. The mean operative time was significantly longer in the LCME group than that in the OCME group with less mean intraoperative blood loss. Conversion was required in 4 patients (8.3%) in the LCME group. The use of laparoscopy increased the number of harvested lymph nodes compared to the open approach (39.81 ± 16.74 vs. 32.65 ± 12.28, respectively, P = 0.010 ). The laparoscopic approach was associated with a shorter time interval to first flatus as well as shorter time interval to liquid and normal diet after surgery. The postoperative hospital stay was significantly shorter in the LCME group. The complication rate was slightly lower in the LCME (14.7%) than in the OCME group (27.2%) ( P = 0.252 ). The 3-year OS in the LCME group was similar to that in OCME (78.2% vs. 63.2%, respectively, P value = 0.423). The three-year DFS in the laparoscopic group was higher (74.5%) than the open group (60.0%), but did not reach statistical significance ( P value = 0.266). Conclusions. In conclusion, laparoscopic CME right hemicolectomy is a technically feasible and safe procedure if surgeon expertise is present. LCME has long-term oncologic outcomes (recurrence and survival) comparable to open surgery for management of patients with stage II or III colon cancer.