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The role of CD10 expression in colorectal cancer has been controversially discussed in the literature. Some data suggest a predictive capacity for lymph node and liver metastases, thus influencing overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). This study aims to analyse the relationship between CD10 expression and overall survival (OS) in a European cohort. To determine the association of CD10 expression with tumour phenotype, molecular features, and prognosis, a tissue microarray of 1469 colorectal carcinomas was analysed using immunohistochemistry and was compared with matched clinicopathologic data. CD10 expression correlated with earlier tumour stages ( p = 0.017) and left-sided colon cancer ( p < 0.001). However, no correlation was found between CD10 expression and lymph node involvement ( p = 0.711), tumour grading ( p = 0.397), or overall survival ( p = 0.562). Even in the subgroup analysis of tumour or nodal stage, CD10 did not affect overall survival, although it was significantly associated with p53 and nuclear β-catenin expression ( p = 0.013 and p < 0.001, respectively). CD10 expression correlates with earlier tumour stages, colon cancer location, and indicators of aggressive CRC subtypes. However, we can exclude CD10 as a relevant independent prognosticator for CRC.

An optimized lymph node yield leads to better survival in colon cancer, but extended lymphadenectomy is not associated with survival benefits. Lymphatic mapping shows several colon cancers feature aberrant drainage pathways inducing local recurrence when not resected. Currently, different protocols exist for lymphatic mapping procedures. This meta-analysis assessed which protocol has the best capacity to detect tumor-draining and possibly metastatic lymph nodes. A systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines, including prospective trials with in vivo tracer application. The risk of bias was evaluated using the QUADAS-2 tool. Traced lymph nodes, total resected lymph nodes, and aberrant drainage detection rate were analyzed. Fifty-eight studies met the inclusion criteria, of which 42 searched for aberrant drainage. While a preoperative tracer injection significantly increased the traced lymph node rates compared to intraoperative tracing (30.1% (15.4, 47.3) vs. 14.1% (11.9, 16.5), p = 0.03), no effect was shown for the tracer used ( p = 0.740) or the application sites comparing submucosal and subserosal injection (22.9% (14.1, 33.1) vs. 14.3% (12.1, 16.8), p = 0.07). Preoperative tracer injection resulted in a significantly higher rate of detected aberrant lymph nodes compared to intraoperative injection (26.3% [95% CI 11.5, 44.0] vs. 2.5% [95% CI 0.8, 4.7], p < 0.001). Analyzing 112 individual patient datasets from eight studies revealed a significant impact on aberrant drainage detection for injection timing, favoring preoperative over intraoperative injection (OR 0.050 [95% CI 0.010-0.176], p < 0.001) while indocyanine green presented itself as the superior tracer (OR 0.127 [95% CI 0.018-0.528], p = 0.012). Optimized lymphatic mapping techniques result in significantly higher detection of aberrant lymphatic drainage patterns and thus enable a personalized approach to reducing local recurrence.

In Germany, socioeconomically deprived citizens more often develop esophageal carcinoma, since typical risk factors follow the social gradient. Therefore, we hypothesized that socioeconomic deprivation might also be associated with advanced tumor stages and comorbidities at the time of surgery. As a consequence, socioeconomic deprivation may be related to postoperative complications and reduced overall survival. Therefore, 310 patients who had undergone esophagectomy for cancer in curative intent between 2012 and 2020 at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) were included in this study. Socioeconomic status (SES) was estimated using the purchasing power of patients' postal codes as a surrogate parameter. No association was found between SES and tumor stage or comorbidities at the time of surgery. Moreover, SES was neither associated with postoperative complications nor overall survival. In conclusion, socioeconomic inequalities of patients treated at a high-volume center do not affect treatment outcomes.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ranks among the five most common cancer entities worldwide and leads to hundred-thousands of deaths every year. Despite some groundbreaking therapeutical revelations during the last years, the overall prognosis remains poor. Although the immune system fights malignant transformations with a robust anti-tumor response, certain immune mediators have also been shown to promote cancer development. For example, interleukin (IL)-22 has been associated with HCC progression and worsened prognosis in multiple studies. However, the underlying mechanisms of the pathological role of IL-22-signaling as well as the role of its natural antagonist IL-22 binding protein (IL-22BP) in HCC remain elusive. Here, we corroborate the pathogenic role of IL-22 in HCC by taking advantage of two mouse models. Moreover, we observed a protective role of IL-22BP during liver carcinogenesis. While IL-22 was mainly produced by CD4 + T cells in HCC, IL-22BP was abundantly expressed by neutrophils during liver carcinogenesis. Hepatocytes could be identified as a major target of this pathological IL-22-signaling. Moreover, abrogation of IL-22 signaling in hepatocytes in IL22ra1 flox/flox × Alb Cre+ mice reduced STEAP4 expression-a known oncogene-in HCC in vivo. Likewise, STEAP4 expression correlated with IL22 levels in human HCC samples, but not in healthy liver specimens. In conclusion, these data encourage the development of therapeutical approaches that target the IL-22-IL-22BP axis in HCC.

Respiratory-digestive tract fistulas are fatal complications that occur in esophageal cancer treatment. Interdisciplinary treatment strategies are still evolving, especially in anatomical treatment stratification. Thus, this study aims to evaluate general therapeutic strategies for this rare condition. Medical records were reviewed for esophageal cancer-associated respiratory-digestive tract fistula patients treated between January 2008 and September 2021. Fistulas were classified according to being surgery- and tumor-associated. Treatment strategies, clinical success, and survival were analyzed. A total of 51 patients were identified: 28 had tumor-associated fistulas and 23 surgery-associated fistulas. Risk factors for fistula development such as radiation (OR = 0.290, p = 0.64) or stent implantation (OR = 1.917, p = 0.84) did not correlate with lack of symptom control for RDF patients. In contrast, advanced lymph node metastasis as another risk factor was associated with persistent symptoms after treatment for RDF patients (OR = 0.611, p = 0.01). Clinical success significantly correlated with bilateral fistula repair in surgery-associated fistulas ( p = 0.01), while tumor-associated fistulas benefited the most from non-surgical ( p = 0.04) or combined surgical and non-surgical intervention ( p = 0.04) and a bilateral fistula repair ( p = 0.02) in terms of overall survival. The therapeutic strategy should aim for bilateral fistula closure. A multidisciplinary, stepwise approach might have the best chance for restoration or symptom control with optimized overall survival in selected patients.