Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer among females and third among males worldwide. It also contributes significantly to cancer-related deaths, despite the continuous progress in diagnostic and therapeutic methods. Biomarkers currently play an important role in the detection and treatment of patients with colorectal cancer. Risk stratification for screening might be augmented by finding new biomarkers which alone or as a complement of existing tests might recognize either the predisposition or early stage of the disease. Biomarkers have also the potential to change diagnostic and treatment algorithms by selecting the proper chemotherapeutic drugs across a broad spectrum of patients. There are attempts to personalise chemotherapy based on presence or absence of specific biomarkers. In this review, we update review published last year and describe our understanding of tumour markers and biomarkers role in CRC screening, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Goal of future research is to identify those biomarkers that could allow a non-invasive and cost-effective diagnosis, as well as to recognise the best prognostic panel and define the predictive biomarkers for available treatments.

Pancreatic cancer remains a disease with very poor prognosis (only 5-6% of patients are still alive after five years). Attempts to improve the results of treatment of pancreatic cancer focus on a better understanding of the pathogenesis, and non-invasive diagnostic methods (genetic testing from peripheral blood), which would create the possibility of early diagnosis and early surgical treatment before the onset of metastasis. New hopes for the improvement of early diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) are associated with genetic testing of microRNA expression changes. A large body of evidence has revealed that microRNAs are aberrantly expressed in the serum and in cancer tissues and elicit oncogenic or tumour-suppressive functions. Selected microRNAs can distinguish pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma from non-cancerous lesions of the pancreas. This review focuses on the involvement of microRNAs in the early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Research results related to the development of a novel therapeutic strategy based on the modulation of microRNA expressions for a better outcome in patients with pancreatic cancer are also presented.

Background: The main symptom of ulcerative colitis is diarrhoea, which is often accompanied by painful tenesmus and faecal blood and mucus. It sometimes co-occurs with abdominal pain, fever, feeling of fatigue, loss of appetite and weight loss. Some dietary factors have been indicated as important in the treatment of ulcerative colitis. The aim of the study was to analyse the association between retinoid intake (total vitamin A, retinol, β-carotene, α-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin) and ulcerative colitis symptoms (abdominal pain, faecal blood, faecal mucus, faecal pus) in individuals with ulcerative colitis in remission. Methods: Assessment of diet was based on self-reported data from each patient’s dietary records taken over a period of three typical, random days (2 weekdays and 1 day of the weekend). Results: A total of 56 individuals with ulcerative colitis in remission (19 males and 37 females) were recruited for the study. One in every four individuals with ulcerative colitis in remission was characterised as having inadequate vitamin A intake. Higher lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin intakes in individuals with ulcerative colitis in remission were associated with lower faecal blood, mucus and pus but not with lower incidence of abdominal pain. Higher carotene intake in individuals with ulcerative colitis in remission may contribute to higher incidence of faecal mucus. Conclusions: Optimising intake of specific retinoids may enhance disease control in individuals with ulcerative colitis. Prospective studies, including patient reported and objective outcomes, are required to confirm this.

In spite of the lack of evidence of diet therapy efficacy to sustain remission of ulcerative colitis (UC), the dietary counseling may be beneficial, as a number of patients restrict intake of some products with no medical consultation. The aim of the present study was to analyze the nutrients and food products intake of Polish males with UC in remission in comparison with a control group. The UC group of 44 male patients with the confirmed remission, as well as the pair-matched group of 44 male controls, matched by their age and concurrent diseases, was recruited for the study. Their dietary intake was assessed based on three-day dietary records (to analyze the nutrients and food products intake) and information about food products excluded from their diet, and compared between respondents. It was observed that the intake of food products did not differ between the compared groups, except for the intake of potatoes and sugar, which was higher (p = 0.0033, p = 0.0092, respectively) in UC patients (median of 209 g and 11 g, respectively) than the control males (median of 100 g and 1 g, respectively). However, it did not influence differences of energy value and nutrients intake between groups, except for the intake of lactose and vitamin B₂ per 1000 kcal, which was lower (p = 0.0425, p = 0.0444, respectively) in UC patients (median of 1.8 g and 0.7 g/1000 kcal) than the control males (median of 3.6 g and 0.8 g/1000 kcal). It was observed that the differences in food products intake between the UC individuals in remission and healthy controls were only minor and did not contribute to any significant differences in their nutrients intake. It was concluded that UC patients should be educated not only about the potential influence of food products on their well-being but also about healthy diet recommendations.

To analyse the association between isoflavone intake and ulcerative colitis motility symptoms in individuals in remission. Cross-sectional study was conducted in a group of ulcerative colitis remission individuals, in sub-groups characterised by various intestinal motility and functioning characteristics (abdominal pain, flatulence, constipations, tenesmus). Total of 56 individuals with ulcerative colitis in remission (19 males and 37 females) were recruited for the study. Assessment of diet was based on self-reported data from each patient’s dietary records taken over a period of three typical, random days (2 weekdays and 1 d of the weekend). The daily isoflavone intake (daidzein, genistein, glycitein and total isoflavones) and daily isoflavone intake per 1000 kcal of diet were assessed. No correlations between isoflavone intake levels and number of bowel movements per day were observed both in the case of intake and intake per 1000 kcal of diet. In the group of individuals declaring lack of abdominal pain, the higher intakes of daidzein (P = 0.0075), daidzein per 1000 kcal of diet (P = 0.0358) and total isoflavone (P = 0.0358) were stated, than in the group of individuals declaring abdominal pain. In the group of individuals declaring lack of constipations, the lower intakes of glycitein (P = 0.0213) and glycitein per 1000 kcal of diet (P = 0.0213) were stated, than in the group of individuals declaring presence of constipations. No differences were observed in isoflavone intake between groups of ulcerative colitis individuals declaring lack of flatulence and declaring presence of flatulence, as well as between groups declaring lack of tenesmus and declaring presence of tenesmus. The moderate dietary isoflavone intake may be beneficial for individuals with ulcerative colitis in remission, however, before including it into recommendations, further prospective studies are needed.