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A persistent descending mesocolon is defined as a congenital fixation anomaly caused by the defective membrane fusion of the descending colon and the lateral abdominal wall. Anatomically, in persistent descending mesocolon, the left colonic artery is often shortened, and joins the marginal artery soon after its bifurcation from the inferior mesenteric artery, while the colonic mesentery often adheres firmly to the mesentery of the small intestine. As a result of these characteristics, anatomical knowledge of the persistent descending mesocolon and preservation of bowel blood flow are important during surgery for left-sided colorectal cancer to avoid adverse events. Moreover, indocyanine green based blood flow assessment is useful for the detailed evaluation of bowel ischemia at the anastomotic site. Here we report the usefulness of blood flow evaluation using indocyanine green fluorescence in laparoscopic or robot-assisted surgery for three patients with colorectal cancer and persistent descending mesocolons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aberrant activation of RAS signalling pathways contributes to aggressive phenotypes of cancer cells. The RAS-targeted therapies for cancer, therefore, have been recognised to be effective; however, current developments on targeting RAS have not advanced due to structural features of the RAS protein. Here, we show that expression of NRAS, a major isoform of RAS, can be controlled by photo-irradiation with an anionic phthalocyanine, ZnAPC, targeting NRAS mRNA. In vitro experiments reveal that ZnAPC binds to a G-quadruplex–forming oligonucleotide derived from the 5′-untranslated region of NRAS mRNA even in the presence of excess double-stranded RNA, which is abundant in cells, resulting in selective cleavage of the target RNA’s G-quadruplex upon photo-irradiation. In line with these results, upon photo-irradiation, ZnAPC decreases NRAS mRNA and NRAS expression and thus viability of cancer cells. These results indicate that ZnAPC may be a prominent photosensitiser for a molecularly targeted photodynamic therapy for cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with stage III Colorectal cancer (CRC) is now internationally accepted as standard care for improving patient outcomes. The Adjuvant Chemotherapy Trial of S-1 for Colorectal Cancer (ACTS-CC) confirmed the non-inferiority of S-1 to tegafur/urcail/leucovorin in terms of overall survival and disease-free survival in patients with stage III CRC after curative surgery. However, the 6-month completion rate of S-1 treatment was 76.5 % in the ACTS-CC. Therefore, treatment completion remains an unresolved problem. Methods/Design: A randomized phase II trial was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral daily administration and alternate-day administration of S-1 as adjuvant chemotherapy in curatively resected stage III CRC. Enrolled patients were assigned to either S-1 daily administration (Arm A) or alternate-day S-1 administration (Arm B). Assigned treatment will start within 8 weeks after surgery. In both arms, S-1 dosing (oral) will be based on body surface area (80 mg/day for body surface area < 1.25 m², 100 mg/day for 1.25-1.5 m², or 60mg/day for>1.5m²). In Arm A, S-1 will be administered orally for 28 days, followed by a 14-day rest. Administration will be conducted for 24 weeks from the date of therapy start. In Arm B, S-1 will be administered orally on alternate days for 28 weeks from the date of the start of therapy. After treatment, all patients will be observed without additional therapy unless recurrent lesions or other cancer lesions occur. The primary endpoint is treatment completion rate. Secondary endpoints include 3-year disease-free survival, compliance, and adverse events. Discussion: Previously, S-1 alternate-day intake maintained the efficacy of chemotherapy while reducing adverse effects for patients with R0-resected stage II/III gastric cancer. Improvement of chemotherapy completion rate for patients with colorectal cancer will lead to an improved patient prognosis. Therefore, a randomized phase II trial has been designed to examine the efficacy of alternate-day versus current standard daily S-1 administration as adjuvant chemotherapy for R0-resected stage III colorectal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract We report a rare case of capillary hemangioma of the liver in an adult. The patient was a 55-year-old man, admitted for investigation of a hepatic tumor. The tumor was seen as a hypoechoic mass with a peripheral hypoechoic ring on ultrasonography. Computed tomography (CT) showed an enhancement pattern different from that of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or cavernous hemangioma. Ultrasonography-guided biopsy was technically very difficult because the tumor was located just below the diaphragm. We could not establish whether the tumor was HCC or cavernous hemangioma by the imaging findings, so we performed a hepatic resection. Histopathological examination confirmed a diagnosis of capillary hemangioma. Ultrasonography, CT, and magnetic resonance imaging showed an intermediate pattern between cavernous hemangioma and HCC. Thus, we must be aware of the possibility of capillary hemangioma when finding an atypical liver tumor inconsistent with HCC or cavernous hemangioma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]