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Systemic inflammation plays a pivotal role in colorectal cancer (CRC) development. Two hallmarks reflect the severity of inflammation—circulating cytokines and nutrition-inflammation biomarkers (NIBs); however, their interplay has not been fully investigated. In total, 128 CRC patients were included. Ten circulating cytokines (TNF-α, TGF-β, IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, and IL-23) and NIBs were analyzed. The relationship between cytokines, NIBs, clinicopathological variables, and overall survival (OS) was assessed using univariate and multivariate analyses. Three NIBs (CRP-to-albumin ratio [CAR]), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio [NLR]), and prognostic nutritional index [PNI]) were associated with OS in univariate analysis; however, CAR was better for OS prediction in multivariate analysis (P = 0.015). None of the serum cytokines analyzed showed a significant association with OS. High CAR (≥0.25) and high IL-10 (≥76.6 pg/mL), high NLR (≥8.2) and high IL-23 (≥51.2 pg/mL), and high PNI (≥42.4) and high IL-1β (≥14.3 pg/mL) values were correlated. CAR, NLR, and PNI were not correlated with each other, whereas circulating cytokines were closely interrelated. High CAR was an independent predictor of poor OS in patients with CRC. Different NIBs have unique cytokine profiles, but show no correlation with each other. There is a close association among the circulating cytokines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interaction between hyaluronan and CD44, an important cancer stem‐cell marker, stimulates various tumor cell‐specific functions such as the stemness of tumor cells. microRNA‐203 (miR‐203) can be downregulated by this interaction in human colorectal cancer (CRC) cells, which increases their stemness; however, the underlying mechanism is not yet defined. Here, we show that overexpression and sequestration of miR‐203 in HCT‐116 and HT‐29 human CRC cells reduces and enhances their stemness, respectively. We also show that GATA‐binding factor 6 (GATA6) is a direct target of miR‐203. Our results indicate that upregulated expression of this transcription factor not only restores the self‐renewal abilities of miR‐203‐overexpressing HCT‐116 and HT‐29 cells but also promotes the stemness properties of their parental counterparts. More important, we show that silencing the expression of either LRH‐1 or Hes‐1 is sufficient to diminish the stemness‐promoting effects of GATA6 in human CRC cells. Together, our findings delineate the stemness‐inhibitory mechanism of miR‐203 in human CRC cells and suggest that this miR is a potential therapeutic agent for colorectal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: To examine the relationship between malnutrition criteria, serum glutamine and arginine concentrations, and clinicopathological features in Taiwan colorectal cancer patients.Methods and Study Design: Three malnutrition criteria (body weight loss>5% over past 6 months, body mass index (BMI)<18.5 kg/m2, and hypoalbuminemia) and serum levels of glutamine and arginine were measured in 164 colorectal patients. Malnutrition status and serum glutamine and arginine concentrations were tested for their association with each other, as well as with the clinicopathological variables.Results: Of the 164 patients, 38 (23.5%) had body weight loss, 19 (11.9%) had low BMI, and 57 (35.8%) had hypoalbuminemia. The univariate analysis showed hypoalbuminemia was correlated with advanced tumour stage, lower concentrations of glutamine, higher C-reactive protein level, and progression-free survival rate. Univariate analysis also showed glutamine levels were lower in advanced tumour stage, but arginine levels were not associated with any clinicopathologic variables. Neither the nutrition criteria used in this study nor glutamine and arginine levels were correlated with hospital stay or progression-free survival rate in multivariate analysis.Conclusions: Different nutrition assessment criteria produced different malnutrition rates in colorectal cancer patients; however, pre-treatment malnourished status and low serum glutamine and arginine concentrations were not correlated with hospital stay and progressionfree survival rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The correlations of pretreatment serum concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) with the clinicopathologic features and progression of colorectal cancer (CRC) were investigated. The pretreatment serum levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNFα were measured in 164 CRC patients before treatment. The relationships between changes in proinflammatory cytokine and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and both clinicopathologic variables and disease progression were examined by univariate and multivariate analysis. Advanced tumor stage was associated with a poorer histologic differentiation, higher CRP level, lower albumin level, and inferior progression-free survival rate (PFSR). Furthermore, high levels of CRP (>5 mg/L) were associated with proinflammatory cytokine intensity, defined according to the number of proinflammatory cytokines with levels above the median level (IL-1β ≥10 pg/mL; IL-6 ≥ 10 pg/mL; and TNFα ≥55 pg/mL). Under different inflammation states, proinflammatory cytokine intensity, in addition to tumor stage, independently predicted PFSR in patients with CRP <5 mg/L, whereas tumor stage was the only independent predictor of PFSR in patients with CRP ≥5 mg/L. Proinflammatory cytokine intensity and the CRP level are clinically relevant for CRC progression. Measurement of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNFα serum levels may help identify early cancer progression among patients with CRP <5 mg/L in routine practice., (© 2016 The Authors. Cancer Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background and Objectives: To examine the relationship between malnutrition criteria, serum glutamine and arginine concentrations, and clinicopathological features in Taiwan colorectal cancer patients., Methods and Study Design: Three malnutrition criteria (body weight loss>5% over past 6 months, body mass index (BMI)<18.5 kg/m2, and hypoalbuminemia) and serum levels of glutamine and arginine were measured in 164 colorectal patients. Malnutrition status and serum glutamine and arginine concentrations were tested for their association with each other, as well as with the clinicopathological variables., Results: Of the 164 patients, 38 (23.5%) had body weight loss, 19 (11.9%) had low BMI, and 57 (35.8%) had hypoalbuminemia. The univariate analysis showed hypoalbuminemia was correlated with advanced tumour stage, lower concentrations of glutamine, higher C-reactive protein level, and progression-free survival rate. Univariate analysis also showed glutamine levels were lower in advanced tumour stage, but arginine levels were not associated with any clinicopathologic variables. Neither the nutrition criteria used in this study nor glutamine and arginine levels were correlated with hospital stay or progression-free survival rate in multivariate analysis., Conclusions: Different nutrition assessment criteria produced different malnutrition rates in colorectal cancer patients; however, pre-treatment malnourished status and low serum glutamine and arginine concentrations were not correlated with hospital stay and progressionfree survival rate.